Ed’s Studio: A Celebration of the Life and Work of Ed Dlugopolski to Benefit Water Street Studios
January 10th - 12th, 2025
Friday: 12pm-9pm
Saturday: 12pm-4pm
Sunday: 12pm-4pm
Gallery Reception Friday, Jan 10, 6-9pm
139 First Street
Batavia, IL 60510
The Life and Legacy of Ed Dlugopolski
When it was learned that an entire collection of work by the late artists and educator Edward Dlugopolski needed to find a new home, volunteers stepped up to assist with the task. In a discussion with Ed’s wife, Joyce McFarland Dlugopolski, it was suggested that Water Street Studios would be a good fit to care for the art from Ed’s Batavia home studio, and arrange a sale of the nearly 300 pieces. Ed and Joyce were long time patrons of the arts, including the Elgin Symphony and Lyric Opera. It was a natural outcome to have his artwork benefit Water Street Studios.
Dlugopolski grew up the son of Polish immigrants in Chicago. He won a scholarship to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After serving in the Army in Korea, he got his degree at the University of Chicago. For thirty years he headed the art department at Glenbard West High School.
In 2007 Ed was selected to be the poster artists for Batavia’s Art in Your Eye festival. The organizers visited his home studio and saw firsthand his vast collection of art, both his own and that of artist friends. His artwork was used for the annual poster, festival t-shirts and canvas bags, still treasured by many today. Organizers of Art in Your Eye continued to enjoy the friendship developed by Ed and Joyce, long after the Batavia festival ended a few years later.
We hope you’ll join us to celebrate Ed’s life and work at the studio open house in January. The entire donated collection of Dlugopolski’s work will be shown and available for purchase.
Special thanks to April Duda Photography for providing images of Ed’s Studio and work.
