Local Business Spotlight - August House
Meet Marya Veeck, owner of August House in Roscoe Village, an art gallery that also offers painting and drawing classes along with a summer camp for kids. Marya Veeck creates elaborate and beautifully detailed tableaus of dollhouse furniture, natural objects, and old toys that reveal elliptic metaphors of submerged feelings. She started her business to represent regional artists and build a warm and welcoming environment to provide affordable, interesting artwork. Read on to learn more.
Give us a small backstory of how your business started.
I opened August House in 1987. The goal was to be a neighborhood art gallery to represent regional artists and be accessible to new collectors, friends, the mailman, kids, and dogs. I wanted to build a warm and welcoming environment and provide affordable interesting artwork. Later, I began painting and drawing classes and established a very popular Summer Kids Camp.
What are some of your favorite moments of running your business?
Our openings are large and legendary with crowds up to 400 people. The frenzy of friends and strangers mixing together in a whirlwind of sociability is something to be experienced and preferably often. I rent out the gallery and because of a charming backyard, we have had five weddings, and, as far as I know, they are still all together.
Do you have any hobbies that you do outside of running your business?
One of my favorite hobbies is adopting Rescue Dogs and making a warm and welcome home for them. I have done benefits for Paws during their annual Roscoe Village Pawsfest and have also done benefits for the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors.
What are some businesses you love in Lakeview or Roscoe Village?
I love an alfresco evening at Piazza Bella or a long lunch at Turquoise. Johns Place is another lunch destination and for shopping I enjoy Roscoe Books and Winnie Cooper. But after being in Roscoe Village for 34 years I try to support as many businesses as I can. And Quincy, our gallery Mascot, loves a day at DSPA the neighborhood Pet groomers.
What are the best ways people can support your business right now?
People can help my business by stopping by anytime to say hello and view some of the various artists work that we always have on display. Or feel free to stop in during a class if you have any questions or just want to say Hello. My painting and drawing classes continue three days a week and you can browse our new website at Augusthousechicago.com to see a schedule of times and learn more about the gallery and my work.
