Local Art Legend Gets His Moment: Ridge Historical Society Extends 'Jack Simmerling: Through His Eyes' Through April 26
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/West Rogers Park ·
West Rogers Park's own Ridge Historical Society is giving art lovers one more reason to step out this spring. The beloved neighborhood institution has extended its critically praised exhibition 'Jack Simmerling: Through His Eyes' through April 26, 2026 — and if the opening weekend's enthusiastic turnout is any indication, it's a must-see before it closes.
The show, co-curated by William Tyre and Tim Blackburn, offers a sweeping celebration of Chicago artist Jack Simmerling's life and legacy — spanning original watercolors, sketches, pen-and-ink drawings, and artifacts rescued from demolished Chicago mansions. The Ridge Historical Society, charmingly housed in a 1922 home right here in West Ridge, has exhibited Simmerling's work before, but this show is far more expansive — a true retrospective that underscores his enduring importance to Chicago's art and cultural history. As Rick Kogan wrote in the Chicago Tribune, Simmerling always believed in 'preserving the past' — and this exhibition does exactly that.
Residents have been flocking to the show since it opened, and organizers say the community response has been overwhelmingly warm. Whether you're a lifelong West Rogers Park neighbor or a first-time visitor to the Ridge Historical Society, this is your chance to connect with the neighborhood's deep artistic roots before the exhibition wraps. Don't miss it — visit the Ridge Historical Society before April 26 and experience one of West Ridge's finest cultural moments of the year.
Sources:
1. https://www.preservationchicago.org/ridge-historical-society-presents-jack-simmerling-through-his-eyes-extended-until-april-26-2026/