Paula Kloczkowski Luberda ~ The Art of Human Rights

Above: "Connected", stoneware, 12" diameter
Christy Tyler Photograph

Paula Kloczkowski Luberda was just one of the 23 Artists presenting work at The Art of Human Rights" event. The amazing collection of work was presented at the 2,500 square foot, Coalition Gallery in the west Loop on March 9th, 10th and 11th. The event raised more than $85,000.

Presenting both paintings and stoneware sculpture, Kloczkowski Luberda's work focuses its content on humanity. She explains...

Connected. “United, joined, or linked.” I seek to create connections in my work through color, pattern, concepts, and materials. I strive to create a bond between the viewer and the paintings or sculpture… to unite them into a common understanding of our humanity. It is important for us to see, visually and spiritually, what the human race has in common and how we connect.

These artworks reflect the ties between others and ourselves. We are a part of a global society. These pieces invite the observer to contemplate moments and events. My choice of abstract human forms is intentional in order for the viewer to see the similarity of mankind and not get caught in reflecting or comparing various segments of society, but instead see it in its entirety.

Paula Kloczkowski Luberda

Christy Tyler Photograph

Additional images from The Art of Human Rights event, as well as information about the work that Heartland Alliance does, can be found at: artofhumanrights.com

Paula Kloczkowski Luberda is an established artist who has been widely exhibited for more than two decades. Her work has been shown internationally at the Ceramics Biennale in Gautang, South Africa, and nationally at Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, California; Center for Emerging Art, Miami, Florida; George A. Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, Missouri; Texas Artists Museum, Port Arthur Texas, and Salisbury State University, Salisbury, Massachusetts to highlight a few. Regionally her work was shown at the Rockford Art Museum, the Evansville Art Museum, Indiana, Indiana University, the University of Wisconsin, North Central College, The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, Highland Park Art Center, and Harper College.
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The Art of Human Rights ~ The Event

Last weekend was a blur. After six months of planning, “The Art of Human Rights” had finally arrived. The three-day event began on Friday night with an Exclusive Preview Reception for the exhibiting artist’s private collectors. The main event—complete with gourmet hors d'oeuvres, live auction and live music—was held on Saturday evening and the weekend concluded with an intimate “coffee with the artists” on Sunday morning.

More than $85,000 was raised at this year’s event to benefit Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights. Heartland Alliance believes that everyone deserves to have a roof over their heads, access to health care, the opportunity to earn income to support themselves and their families, and to be treated fairly and with justice.

The event included work by twenty-three artists. They were Christopher Andres, John Benedetto, Jenny Chi, Audry Cramblit, Jane Fulton Alt, Sheila Ganch, Andrea Harris, Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Deanna Krueger, Roland Kulla, Richard Laurent, Maggie Meiners, Rebecca Moy, Didier Nolet, Nancy Pirri, Ted Preuss, Nancy Rosen, Valerie Schiff, Tom Torluemke, Francine Turk, Michael Van Zeyl, John Vlahakis and myself.

Audry Cramblit presents “Paris”, a 24 inch tall clay sculpture, to a group of interested patrons.


Photographs by Christy Tyler

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Ken Konchel ~ Gallery 180

Ken Konchel, Serpentine

Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago presents the black and white, architectural photography of St. Louis Artist, Ken Konchel. His abstracted imagery presents an alternative view of the man-made structures that surround us. Konchel explores his surroundings and—through composition, light and line—presents exciting imagery that defines the expressive power of buildings. For Konchel, a successful image removes the context and distills architecture to nothing but relationships of shape, line, pattern, detail, tonality, and/or surface. Konchel explains:

“Architecture forms the physical environment of our lives. It connects us to the past, it helps define our relationships to one another, and it gives us a sense of place and identity. Architecture also embodies our values and expresses our individual and collective aspirations. And most importantly, architecture enhances and advances our creative legacy. Yet something so integral to the sense of who we are—something that contributes immeasurably to our quality of life—is often dismissed as mundane, taken for granted, or at worst ignored. My ambition is to raise awareness of, and appreciation for, architecture by presenting it as engaging and dynamic geometric arrangements and interactions.”

The photography of Ken Konchel will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through May 3. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, March 16 from 5:30-7:30 pm. This exhibition is free and open to the public. All works are available for purchase. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5:30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. Additional information can be found at gallery180.com.

Additional imagery can be found on Konchels website at: kenkonchelphoto.com

Ken Konchel has won 67 awards including second place at the Photo 2009 Black & White Classic Juried Photography Show at Brush Art Gallery & Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts, best of show at the Birmingham, Michigan Art in the Park, second place in photography at The Sausalito Art Fair, first place in photography at the Armonk New York Outdoor Art Fair, award winner at the Milwaukee Lakefront Festival of Arts, best of two dimensional media at the Chicago Old Town Art Fair, award winner at The Kansas City Artists Coalition’s River Market Regional Exhibition, first place at the Denver Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and award winner at the Kansas City Plaza Art Fair.

His work has been reviewed or cited in the Chicago Newcity Art Magazine, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on twelve occasions, the St. Louis Riverfront Times on four occasions, and the Kansas City Star on three occasions. His photography has been included in the books St. Louis Seen and Unseen, St. Louis: Landmarks & Historic Districts, and St. Louis for the Record.
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