Heathcote “Hec” Mann stepped off the train at the Mt. Morris Depot in 1915, walked 50 yards into the Kable Brothers printing plant and immediately got a job.
He became a nationally known authority on creating effective layouts for print. But it was his lifelong passion for art, and his side career as a cartoonist and designer, that made him a legend in Mt. Morris and spawned a four-generation family legacy of artists that continues to this day.
Over 100 years of Mann family art will be on display in the Encore Mt. Morris Art Gallery, beginning Friday, Aug. 7. Hec and his wife, Trine (a reputable artist in her own right), were an artistic “power couple” of their era and remain an inspiration to their family.
The Mann family art exhibit is an eclectic mix of drawings, paintings, graphic design, photographs and fine art prints, as well as three-dimensional works such as quilts, resin art, and pottery. Artists are Hec and Trine Mann, Eric and Nancy Mann, Chris and Cecilia Mann, Ellen Mann, and Jeff Mann.
The Encore Mt. Morris Art Gallery is open from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in August, coinciding with the free Mt. Morris Jamboree Friday night concerts and the free Saturday Strawfest concerts on the campus square.
The art gallery shares the first floor of College Hall, 16 S. Wesley Ave., with the Mt. Morris Historical Museum. Admission is free, although donations are welcome.
Learn more about Mt. Morris, its history, and current attractions at mtmorrisil.net.