The Boystown business The Leigh Gallery, 3306 N. Halsted St., ended its 15-year run with a closing party on Aug. 23.
Owner Jean Leigh said in a goodbye letter, “I will be changing my career path and onto wonderful new adventures! Joe [Canup] will continue in the arts and is enthusiastic [about] his future endeavors.”
At the party, she told Windy City Times, “This area needed art so badly. It was the right thing to do and it was where I wanted to be—and it worked out beautifully for the 15 years I’ve been here. I thank everyone who supported me.”
In April, Windy City Times reported that Leigh is retiring and planning on moving to Wisconsin with her wife, Denise Lesiak. Leigh elaborated on plans when talking with WCT at the party: “I’m going on to a writing career. … I want to write the Great American Novel and I’m going to do some copywriting, just to get back into the [swing of things].”
The Leigh Gallery will officially close Saturday, Aug. 31. Until then, items will be on sale; visit TheLeighGallery.com .
—Andrew Davis