Tom Torluemke ~ Fearsome Fable – Tolerable Truth

Last week, I drove down to the Hyde Park Art Center to see the Tom Torluemke installation titled "Fearsome Fable - Tolerable Truth". I've worked with Torluemke in the past and when I saw his imagery on the Art Center's web site, I was intrigued. The installation—located in Gallery 4—consists of 40 cardboard reversible wall panels spanning 170 feet. The reversible panels present two views of the world... One side apocalyptic and the other side approaching utopia.

While I was there, the Utopia side of the panels were being presented. I found myself exploring the environment along with six other people... all but one was in their late teens or early twenties. The younger crowd seemed disrespectful of the work... one boy leaning against a panel as he sat on the floor... another picking up a floor piece and tossing it with disregard. They were strangely mocking the imagery. One even pointed out an instance of domestic violence... making light of the daily horror some people experience even in a perceived perfect world. The work is amazingly thought-provoking yet my experience left me disillusioned. I wondered if this generation of self-entitled, disrespectful, unthinking children will grow up in time to save the world. But then, the generation before me probably had the same thoughts.

The Hyde Park Art Center is located at 5020 South Cornell Avenue in Chicago. The center is just a few minutes south of downtown and easy to get to from the major Chicago expressways. The exhibition continues through April 28th and there is a "Second Sunday / Turn It Around Event" scheduled for Sunday March 10 from 1-4 pm. The exhibition shouldn't be missed.

Born and raised in Chicago’s inner city, Tom Torluemke has exhibited his paintings, sculptures, murals, and drawings extensively across the Midwest since 1980. His artwork has been shown in solo exhibitions at venues including the Chicago Cultural Center, South Bend Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and in group exhibitions across the nation. Permanent public art commissions by Torluemke in fiberglass, wood, and terrazzo tile can be seen in the Indianapolis/Marion County Public Library, the Indianapolis International Airport, and Purdue University-Calumet Campus, to name a few locations. He currently lives and works in Dyer, Indiana, where he and partner Linda Dorman ran the (now-defunct) respected contemporary art space, Uncle Freddy’s Gallery. Torluemke received a BFA from the American Academy of Art (Chicago) and is represented by Linda Warren Projects. 
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Michael Van Zeyl ~ Gallery 180

Michael Van Zeyl, Still Life [Flowers], 16 x 18", oil on panel, 2013

On Friday, March 15th, Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will host a catered reception for an exhibition presenting the formal figure and still life paintings of Michael Van Zeyl. Van Zeyl's paintings will be exhibited along side of the abstract sculptural vessels of Paula Kloczkowski Luberda.

The classical imagery of Michael Van Zeyl explores the human form as well as traditional still life. The subjects are rendered within a painterly atmosphere—where light defines form—to create compositions of classic mastery. In discussing his work, VanZeyl explains:

I create art because I am truly fascinated by the process of transforming a flat, blank canvas into the illusion of dimensional form, atmosphere and mood. I consider the theme of my work to be the rhythmic flow of natural light and the poetic use of edges to transform oil paint into my version of visual perception and taste. I look to my daily life for inspiration and am attracted to subjects with an elegant, classic or simple beauty. To keep my work fresh and evolving I enjoy organizing a multitude of painting explorations. The greatest reward for me is when viewers emotionally respond with my artwork and are visually stimulated.

The work of Michael Van Zeyl and Paula Kloczkowski Luberda will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through May 2, 2013. Previews begin on March 4th. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, March 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm. 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.

Michael Van Zeyl, Nature's Touch [Detail], 20 x 30", oil on linen, 2012

By the time he was seven years old, Michael Van Zeyl had declared he was going to be an artist. He attended art school and then continued to paint on the side while working as a graphic designer. In 2005, after a successful career in graphic design, he decided to follow his passion and become a full-time painter. Notable for their “old world” romanticism, Michael’s work includes still life and portraits that are highly formalized using traditional oil techniques. This style, which was once considered commonplace, is today what makes him unique. His paintings stand in stark contrast to the abstract and conceptual art that we’ve come to expect. His work will fill you with sense of nostalgia for a time you never knew, but truly wish you had.

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Paula Kloczkowski Luberda ~ Coming in March to Gallery 180

“Ovate”, 8”w x 7”h x 11”d, Stoneware, 2012 

Save the Date: Friday, March 15

The abstract stoneware vessels of Chicago artist, Paula Kloczkowski Luberda will be on exhibit at Gallery 180 beginning on March 4th. Accompanied by the still life and figure paintings of Michael Van Zeyl, Kloczkowski Luberda's conceptual structures make reference to nature as well as the human form.

Having worked figuratively for a number of years, Kloczkowski Luberda has been exploring a new voice of expression. Her recently-created objects continue to reference humanity—or the lack of humanity—politics, and the flaws of Corporate America, but this new direction is not only concept. The work addresses the material source as concept itself—exposing and embracing the subtle flaws of the medium. Not mass-produced by machine, the subtle imperfections refer to our own humanity. The artist explains:

“Conceptually, these abstract vessels reveal the challenges facing humanity while expressing strength, endurance, power and a level of vulnerability.”

“Secret Void”, 8”w x 12.75”h, x 7.25”d, Stoneware, 2012

The work of Paula Kloczkowski Luberda will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through May 2, 2013. Previews begin on March 4th. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, March 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm. 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.

Paula Kloczkowski Luberda is an established and widely exhibited artist for the past twenty plus years. 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, Illinois Institute of Art, Highland Park Art Center and Harper College Palatine, are among her many exhibitions. She has been represented by 4 Chicago area galleries during the past 15 years and exhibited at numerous other venues such as the annual SOFA Show at Navy Pier, the Illinois Institute of Art, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Borders Book Store, and AT&T Corporate offices. 

Along with her extensive exhibition history she has won numerous awards like the Illinois Institute of Art Purchase Award and a First Place Award. Other awards included a Merit Award from Salisbury State University; Best of Show, Nicolet College, Wisconsin; 3rd Place Indiana University; Merit Award Quincy Art Center; Honorable Mention, Rockford Art Museum, and an Award of Excellence from the Norris Cultural Center in St. Charles, IL.

In Addition to her professional work she has also engaged in lectures and public speaking on her work and methods as well as art in general. This included an invitation as guest artist lecturer at Roosevelt University, Chicago, an exhibiting artist lecture at Harper College, Palatine, and Borders Book Store on Michigan Ave., Chicago and invited speaker at various art organizations. She and her work have been featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times and the Daily Herald as well as other print media. Her work was also featured on NBC Channel 5 news.

Ms. Luberda’s education includes a BA in Studio Art, an Associate’s degree in Design and Illustration, specialized instruction in ceramic sculpture from the Art Institute of Chicago, fiber sculpture Concordia University, Montreal Canada, Mold making San Antonio Institute of Art, San Antonio, Texas, Patination at Cleveland University, Cleveland Ohio. 

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