Art, chocolate show to honor late artist

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One of the pieces by Joliet artist Sandy Costa that will be for sale at Saturday’s Art and Chocolate Show in Crest Hill. | Photo courtesy Sandy Costa.

Updated: March 11, 2012 8:45AM

CREST HILL — Area artists will pay tribute to the late artist and activist Thea DeLuna on Saturday with the “Sweets to the Sweet” art and chocolate show at Aunt Nina’s Sweets-N-Treats.

DeLuna meant a lot to Joliet jewelry craftsmen Dulcinea Hawksworth and Sandy “Foo” Costa. She was a mentor to both in her art, her creativity and spiritually.

The two wanted to pay tribute to her by showing her work to the public. On display will be DeLuna’s dichroic glass, metal works, paint media, and poetry.

“We want to pay tribute to her as a teacher and a local artist,” Hawksworth said. “She taught me a lot about artwork and about life. She taught me so much that had an impact on me and will for the rest of my life.”

In addition to being an artist, DeLuna was a social activist with a disability that never got in her way, Costa said.

In addition to DeLuna’s works, Hawksworth and Costa will have jewelry of their own to show and sell. Hawksworth, owner of the business, Little Black Dress, specializes in custom-made pieces of jewelry and accessories. She began the business with jewelry and accessories made to accentuate the “little black dress” many woman have.

“Some of my designs are very organic and very simple, made with clay and macramé,” she said. “I have other pieces that are more on the elegant side and are made from sterling wire and crystal and precious stones like coral, turquoise and obsidian.”

Hawksworth will take orders for custom pieces that could start from a piece of jewelry a customer already has, such as a grandmother’s broach, a mother’s ring, or even a single earring.

Costa will have some pieces she has made specifically for Valentine’s Day, such as jewelry with rose quartz or with heart-shapes. She specializes in pieces made from stones that she says are linked to healing properties, such as lepidolite for clarity and quartz crystal for clarity and energy.

Aunt Nina’s Sweets-N-Treats has its own chocolatier who will be ready with truffles, toffee, popcorn and sweets for all ages. It also has its own chocolate art on display, such as a chocolate piano and a chocolate shoe.

“As an artist and an Italian,” Hawksworth said, “I can tell you I have a love affair with food, and the chocolate there is good. It is craftsmanship. You can savor it … Chocolate and jewelry are big on Valentine’s Day, and you can find them both here, and they will both be locally produced.”