“THE ART AND SOUL” of Alba Goebel

 The Prairie Arts Council is proud to present its next Gallery Exhibit titled “The Art and Soul” of Alba Goebel at the Prairie Arts Center throughout the month of May beginning with an opening reception for the Chillicothe Artist on Sunday, May 4 from 3 - 5 pm. The public is invited to attend the reception for the Artist.

 In 78 years of portrait painting, Alba Goebel of Chillicothe, Illinois, has mastered the art of imbuing every image with the spirit of her subject. Her skills are so palpable, a grieving mother who commissioned her to paint a portrait of a deceased child once walked into Goebel’s house, looked at the portrait and fainted.

 Alba grew up in Italy and when young, always dreamed of pursuing her passion to paint. However, because her military father was stationed in a tiny town in Southern Italy, she knew something very dramatic had to be done or she would never have the chance to be trained properly. She quietly devised a plan to get a message to Italy’s Crown Prince Umberto’s wife wrapped in a portrait of the young princess. The message requested that her family be transferred to Florence so she could pursue her art studies. Because the princess loved the portrait, within months Alba and her family were transferred and her formal training began. 

 Goebel, during World War Two, began her professional career painting American soldiers’ portraits for $10.00. Her sister managed the details and it was a successful arrangement until her sister married an American and moved to Washington, Illinois. Alba subsequently followed her to America to help when her sister’s baby was born. Shortly after she arrived, she met the proverbial boy-next-door, William Goebel, and they were married in 1947. Alba estimates that she has painted well over 1000 portraits. Her works hang in private collections, offices, public buildings and museums. Alba Goebel resides in Chillicothe no longer able to paint because of glaucoma and macular degeneration. 

 She recently participated in a group art exhibit in the Quad Cities and is a much celebrated artist in Chillicothe and the Peoria area. PAC is delighted to be able to host this special exhibit for Alba Goebel.