The widow of Jack Opilla, owned and operated Aurora Gallery, at first with three fellow artists and later on her own. Aurora, now closed, had become a destination in Annapolis for collectors of contemporary art during its more than 30 years on Maryland Avenue. Her own work, consisting mainly of soft sculpture and prints, earned her a place in many exhibitions and in homes in Maryland and around the world.
She also taught Art for many years at the Southshore Elementary School in Crownsville. The art room there was named and dedicated in her honor. More recently she volunteered in preparing exhibitions at Quiet Waters in Annapolis and exhibited her work at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria.
Opilla graduated with a B.F.A. from The Tyler School of Art at Temple University and also studied for a year abroad in Italy. She earned her M.F.A. at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.
She is survived by her son Christopher Opilla and daughter-in-law Dara Taylor Opilla of Bowie, Maryland, and her sister Donna Chitwood and brother-in-law Ray Smith of Texas.
A memorial celebration of her life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be held until the memorial, when a nonprofit will be created in her honor to help underprivileged children attend art camps and after school art programs.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5