The Evanston Arts and Business Committee and EVMark continued their efforts to breath life into downtown Evanstons vacant storefronts with the second installment of its Art Under Glass program.

Back in June of this year, the two groups introduced the program, which works with downtown building managers to place works of local artists in the windows of vacant storefronts.

The new installment features the works of 13 local artists displayed in windows along the 1600 block of Orrington Street, the 700 block of Church Street and the 1500 block of Maple Street.

During these recessionary times, its not fun to have vacant storefronts, said Carolyn Dellutri, executive director of EVMark. But it has been great to have the opportunity to work with this committee and actually change the artwork out after a couple months to give the people walking around the downtown a new look and feel in the windows.

Organizers plan to continue the program and possibly expand it into other parts of Evanston with vacant storefronts.

We want to showcase the local artists as much as we can and also bring life and energy to the street, said Penny Rotheiser, co-chairwoman of the Evanston Arts and Business Committee.

Rotheiser, who coordinated the program with Evanston Art Council Chairwoman Jill Brazel, said she hoped the displays would help attract businesses to the vacancies.

One of the storefronts that we filled with art last time has since been rented, which of course is one of the goals, she said.

Art Under Glass features works by: Amy Woodbury, Helga Dangel, Heather Hancock, John Macsai, Melanie Deal, Patrick Linehan, Esther Williams-Hays, Janet Dobora, Steve Hamann, Michael Lowenstein, Jill Birschbach and Chris Heisinger. The second installment also features works from Portraits of a Community, an exhibit presented by Shorefront.

To learn more about Portraits of a Community, click here.

Jonathan Bullington, Triblocal.com reporter