Writer to Give Visual Presentation on Quincy-Born Member & Artist Neysa McMein

Chicago writer and poet Cynthia Gallaher will debut her nonfiction book, “Frugal Poets’ Guide to Life: How to Live a Poetic Life, Even If You Aren’t a Poet” at Quincy Art Center, Quincy, Illinois, on Saturday, June 17 at 2 p.m. During this free event, she’ll give a talk and visual presentation on her Quincy-born relative, artist Neysa McMein. Neysa McMein, born in Quincy in 1888, left Quincy after high school to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago before heading east, where she created hundreds of magazine covers, developed the first iconic image of Betty Crocker, and became a member of the famous Algonquin Round Table in , which included writer and comic . McMein’s ancestral relative, Cynthia Gallaher, who holds a degree in art history, helped curate a Neysa McMein art retrospective at Quincy Art Center in 2004 and now returns to the art center to revisit McMein’s work in her PowerPoint visual presentation as well as spotlight McMein’s appearance in “Frugal Poets’ Guide to Life.” "Frugal Poets' Guide to Life" is part memoir, part life-coaching for poets (or those who’d like to live like one) and part creativity guide. “Frugal Poets’ Guide to Life” is a book to nurture any creative person, whether he or she is a #musician, #composer, #dancer, #artist, #fiction, #nonfiction or #drama #writer, or a #poet. This event is part of Frugal Poets' Guide to Life 2017 10-city book tour, partially supported by an Individual Artists Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Gallaher’s published works include three full poetry collections and two poetry chapbooks, as well as nonfiction “Frugal Poets’ Guide to Life.” The Chicago Public Library lists her among its “Top 10 Requested Chicago Poets.” The Mission of the Quincy Art Center is to provide opportunities for growth and appreciation of the visual fine arts through exhibitions and programs in our community. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information can be found at our location at 1515 Jersey St. Quincy, IL, our website quincyartcenter.org, or by calling (217) 223-5900.

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