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Arts & Entertainment

Two Southland Artists Hope Their Tinley Gallery Stays Alive All Summer

Meet Jaci Robbins and Christy Zirkelbach. They tend a bar, run an art gallery and change the world.

Southland artists Jaci Robbins and Christy Zirkelbach had a dream. They would open a local gallery showcasing their work and bartend on the side to pay the bills.

The RZ Gallery opened its doors at 17322 Oak Park Ave. in downtown Tinley Park this month, showcasing the work of local artists.

However, the paintings of Robbins and Zirkelbach are not among the works of the eight artists represented.

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"A lot of people come in and say, 'Where is your art?" Zirkelbach said. "But we've been so busy getting this together that we didn't have time."

Robbins agreed. The details of running an art gallery—securing the space, maintaining the correct temperature, getting insurance—all take time. And managing artists is a job in itself, she said.

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"They're typical artists: You give the a tough deadline for the 15th when you really want it on the 30th," Robbins said.

Those artists include Tinley's Tom Braaksma, Joe Cronin, and Jeff Sanders; Alex Payanoff of Oak Forest; Matt Rektorski and Matt Havelka, both of New Lenox; Matt Jesiolowski of Joliet; and Kristin Peres of Frankfort—the show's lone female exhibitor.

Any prima donnas in this group? Robbins said no, but photographer Braaksma said Joe Cronin demanded his own gallery. It's in the restroom. Braaksma led the way to the back of the building, where Cronin's works are proudly on display above the toliet. 

It's a humorous moment, but it underscores Robbins' point. She's utilized every square inch of this rented space.

And, she and Zirkelbach have been using the month of this gallery's run to promote the arts.

The two certainly have dreams. They'd like to extend the gallery through the month of August, if finances materialize. An online store could help cash-flow and visibility.

A roundtable of the exhibiting artists would educate the community, said Robbins, who holds a degree in art history from Columbia.

"I've been preparing for this for a long time," she said.

So far, eight or nine works have sold, which is not quite enough to guarantee the gallery's doors will remain open through the summer.

Tinley mom Katie Rodriguez said she's enjoyed the gallery and thinks others should check it out.

"You can bring your children to see that there are local artists here," she said. 

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