Nickel Plate Arts Executive Director Aili McGill knows how to work behind the scenes of the organization’s showcases, but next month, she will be front and center. Or rather, her work will be.
McGill recently illustrated a book, “The Owl and The Pussycat Went to Sea,” and her illustrations will be on display at Nickel Plate Arts throughout April.
McGill did a similar showcase last year, but this year’s will feature new illustrations and an exhibit where McGill shows the process of illustrating different images and overlaying text to create a scene in the book.
“This is a nice, celebratory cap,” she said. “This project has taken two years for me. I’ve always been a closet illustrator throughout high school and college and my adult life. I didn’t put investment into that part of my identity, and after working at Nickel Plate for four years, I started realizing I’ve been giving all this great advice to artists, that everybody’s creative and has something to contribute, and it’s worth investing in your dream.”
McGill’s book began as a gift for her brother at his wedding and then grew into what it is today. The books are on a ship from China, and McGill said part of the excitement around the showcase is not knowing when her work will arrive. A few advance copies have been ordered and will be available for the showcase.
Two receptions will be held, one from 6 to 9 p.m. April 6 and the other from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28, both at Nickel Plate Arts, 107 S. Eighth St., Noblesville.
“This has been a really fun journey, and I felt like I needed to demonstrate both my support of Nickel Plate and prove that things I’ve been telling artists actually work,” McGill said.
