The space on Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville that began as a general store near the turn of the century and then housed Smith Shoes for 50 years now has become home to an eclectic collection of the three A’s: fine art, antiques and apparel.
Millennium Art Gallery’s owner, Laurie Lundberg Towner, said the space kept evolving as she began renovations, which revealed handsome brick walls, beautiful solid oak meat lockers and painted-over windows, all now revitalized and part of the current decor.
Towner’s business also has evolved over the years. It started with an art gallery venture in the former Heritage Galleria down the street when she “found 11 other insane artists and formed a co-op.” Her partner in the first Millennium that took the place of the co-op was Nedra Reinicke, no longer involved in the operation.
The merchandise featured in this shop, which opened in November 1995, is the work of a wide variety of artists. The shopper can find anything from a tiny $3 rabbit to paintings in the $3,000 to $5,000 range.
“Artists range from young emerging artists to established artists living in the area,” said Towner, a watercolor artist and teacher.
Although the shop features paintings, with artists such as Grayslake oil painter Lisa Kardoff and Waukegan watercolorist Elizabeth Whitten, Towner said she works hard to maintain a balance between fine art and fine art pieces that complement each other.
There is tactile, wearable art such as hand-woven sweaters and skirts, hand-painted pottery, figurines, original jewelry, watercolors and oils and wood carvings. Towner also has what she considers one of the best collections of trunks, including what are known as “immigrant” trunks, some brought to the United States as far back as 150 years ago.
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Millennium Art Gallery
541 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
Phone: 847-918-8263.
