Kalo History
The
Kalo Arts Crafts Community House, located at 322 Grant Place in Park Ridge,
Illinois, was "a school within a workshop" owned and operated by the Kalo
Shop, Inc. (1900-1970), founded and operated by Chicago art entrepreneur
Clara Pauline Barck Welles (1868-1965).
This facility played a
pivotal role in training hundreds of aspiring artisans for meaningful and
profitable careers in the arts. Many former Kalo
silversmiths and
jewelers also started their own companies with the
blessing and encouragement
of Clara B. Welles, which led to the founding of a
full-fledged, highly profitable art industry in the Chicago area that was
known for hand wrought silver, jewelry
and crafts products.
Many hand wrought silver
and jewelry companies spun off from the Kalo Arts
Crafts Community house in Park
Ridge. This plethora of startups was pivotal
in making Chicago the leader in hand wrought silver and jewelry during
the American Arts & Crafts movement. These included more than 20 of the best
known companies in the world of Arts & Crafts silver today---all tracing
their roots back to the Kalo House in Park Ridge.
More historical information on the Kalo Shop and it's artisans is in the process of being developed for this website.