COUNTRY VS. TOWN: CHRISTINE GEBAUER

CHRISTINE GEBAUER grew up in Elmhurst, during a transitional time, which left her with memories of both the very old and very new cornerstones of the community. “I remember spending hours reading, exploring and volunteering at the maze-like old library building, then by the time I was in high school, I was studying for finals at the stunning new library building, where I now take my own children to explore,” she says.

Her childhood was a wholesome suburban idyll, filled with the freedom of roaming around with friends. Without cell phones, social media, or streaming services, the excitement was walking home along the hidden Prairie Path.

Christine’s early art teachers encouraged her, and she enrolled in every art class she could find, even attending summer courses at the Elmhurst Art Museum as a child. Not knowing any full-time artists, she did not envision a creative career, and took a practical path in life, moving into retail buying and planning for Ulta Beauty after graduating from Illinois State University.

In a wonderful bit of symmetry, she now exhibits at the Elmhurst Art Museum in the Artist Guild Gallery, living her true calling as an artist and gallery-owning entrepreneur.

Christine says, “This example of life coming full circle illustrates that what is meant for you will always be there for you when you’re ready for it. It’s never too late to do what you’re meant to do and to become who you’re meant to become.”

She acknowledges that her foray into business continues to help her as a small business owner, and even helps create forecasts for fundraising efforts. “Having a strong left and right brain definitely give me an advantage as an artist and entrepreneur,” Christine says.

She works hard to create opportunities for artists to prove to both her younger self and the next generation of creatives that you can have a successful career in the arts, saying, “Let’s put the starving artist stereotype to rest and chart a new path where artists are valued and well compensated for their contributions.”

Christine, her husband Eddie, their two young boys, Matthew and William, and a tornado of a Bernedoodle named Buttons live in a pocket of Hinsdale where they can walk to Madison School, the Hinsdale Community Pool, and The Community House. The family spends lots of time in their backyard, growing vegetables in raised beds built by Eddie and the boys, and native plants and flowers to support the pollinator population.

They are nearby Christine’s mother in Elmhurst, Eddie’s office in Oakbrook, and the medical team at Hinsdale Hospital, who supported Christine through a period of health challenges that included a near-death experience, which has forever changed her outlook on life. “When I returned to good health, my outlook was forever changed, all my previous worries and fears evaporated, and in their place emerged a laser-focused drive to accomplish and experience everything I almost didn’t get to do. My priorities, my passions, and my purpose are crystal clear-and I don’t let fear get in the way of anything I want to do.” Christine shares.

That means returning to the art world, first as an artist, and now as an art dealer with a Hinsdale art gallery, Celestial Art Curation, where Christine’s work and the work of 14 other local artists is on view. “I am fulfilling dreams that were too big for me to even imagine as my younger self. However, with an expressive soul, love of creativity, and a corporate retail background it’s not too hard to see how the dots have connected,” she says.

Mantra? “If your dreams don’t scare you, you’re not dreaming big enough!” And boy do I live by this one! And boy am I scared sometimes! On your reading stack? The Boldly Inclusive Leader by Minette Norman. It is important to me as a business owner, and as someone who works on a lot of volunteer teams, to create an environment where everyone is respected, heard and valued. The way I treat people and the working environments that I help create reflect my character and my values and it’s something I take very seriously. I hold myself to a high standard of leadership and I’m always learning. What organizations do you support? Joining Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club (HJWC) and later the Hinsdale Auxiliary of Infant Welfare Society has enriched my life beyond words. The friendships, sense of belonging, and fulfilling work has been such a blessing to me and my family.” I’m also the fundraising chair for the Union Church Early Childhood Program (UCECP) and chaired the biennial fundraiser for the school this past February. We never miss Brightpoint’s Derby Day party, and I make it a point to attend as many Hinsdale Historical Society and Clarendon Hills Auxiliary of Infant Welfare Society events as possible. What has surprised you about living in this area? How close knit the community really is. I’ve met so many kind-hearted people and have seen first-hand how much affection and support people hold for our schools, non-profits, and neighbors. Any daily rituals that make you feel centered? I carve out a bit of quiet alone time in the morning and in the evening to center my thoughts and intentions. I often wear noise cancelling headphones and journal a bit while enjoying a cup of tea. In the morning it’s cocoa, then matcha, chai, sometimes turmeric-ginger or elderberry, always ending the day with reishi. Music you love? I have not turned off Taylor Swift’s TTPD since it dropped! I wasn’t even necessarily a fan of Taylor Swift’s music before, but this album made me a “Swiftie”. Now I’m following all the fan accounts and trying to figure out the hidden messages behind her tour outfits! Favorite summer traditions? S’Mores! We always have marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers on hand and this year we got a solo mesa tabletop fire pit. Now we have s’mores with a side of firefly chasing every night! What advice would you give to your younger self? Do not to fear being unapologetically yourself. When you are just radiating your truth, the people who resonate with you will find you and those who don’t fall away. Everyone in my orbit is kind, thoughtful, and super talented. You attract what you put out into the world. By being myself, I’ve created a life that’s truly fulfilling, and I get to spend my days with the most incredible friends and collaborators.