Ginny Mangrum ~ Selections from the Collection

"Subway", digitally enhanced photograph from film, edition of 15, 16 x 20", 2009

Included in the current exhibition—"Selections from the Collection" at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago—is a digitally enhanced photograph from film by Ginny Mangrum, titled "Subway". The moody, high contrast image was purchased from the "photo '11" exhibition, for inclusion into the School's permanent Fine Art Collection. Mangrum's work from this series eliminates references to society, inviting the viewer into an unsettling environment. Mangrum explains...

“Subway”, is an image from the “Night Moves II” series. This series of black and white, digitally enhanced film photographs, examines the psychological associations existing within private and public places photographed without people. These voyeuristic observations are shot at night to emphasize an unsettling tension. Elements are isolated from surrounding activities, containing them within a portal and framed by a large darkened canvas. Because signage and identifying information has intentionally been eliminated, the image delineates the vulnerability of the space, and infuses it with suspense—waiting for something to happen.

"Subway" is just one of fifteen pieces selected to be exhibited in the final exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The exhibition is scheduled to continue through July 8th. Most of the collection can be viewed at gallery180.com

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. Admission is free.

 

Selections from the Collection ~ Gallery 180

Julia DelNagro Oehmke, "Back View" oil, 24"x18"

This past weekend, I installed my final exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The exhibition consists of work that has been shown and collected by the school, over the past decade. Fifteen pieces, make up the exhibition that tends to focus more on thought-provoking perception than literal subject. This is evident even within the figurative imagery included in the exhibition.

There are six pieces in the exhibition that use the figure as subject—some more obviously than others—but each conveys a message beyond the obvious.

Shown above, “Back View” by Julia DelNagro Oehmke, presents a beautifully painted semi-nude figure, abstracted through style and composition. The form is revealed through harsh lighting with deep shadows exaggerating a restricted pose that conceals the extremities. The tightly confined torso mimics the tension found in the subtle ripple of flesh in the lower back, the draped fabric grasping at the hips, and the tightly pulled hair. The image defines restriction and confinement… It’s not simply a painting of a beautiful woman.

Two photographs by Maggie Meiners are included in the exhibition. The figurative piece of the two—“Joe”—was acquired during the national juried exhibition titled “Photo 11”. The image presents the portrait of a shy—and heavily jeweled, bearded man—exposing only a collection of rings and a quiet smile. The repetition of the subject’s fingers, comprise a complex pattern of horizontal lines, interrupted by an occasional trinket of metal, a highlight on skin or an unusually bright fingernail. The photograph—a portrait—is something more than just a portrait. It’s a composition defined by line, form, contrast, and repetition.

Maggie Meiners, "Joe", Silver Gelatine Print

“Family Circles”, an oil painting by Janet Doroba, features flat roughly modulated shapes of color to define the human form. The blurred, faceless figures—mostly turned away from the viewer—create an image reminiscent of a distant memory or dream. The vague depictions offer an opportunity for the viewer to explore personal relationships as well as the relationships of color combinations. The complementary color palette utilizes orange and blue to intensify the perceived color of each… perhaps referencing the intensity of family relationships.

Janet Doroba, "Family Circles" oil, 28"x22"

“From the Top Looking Down” by painter/sculptor/conceptual artist, Paula Kloczkowski Luberda is one of the larger pieces in the exhibition. The 48”-square, mixed media on wood image defines success …or perhaps failure. As in corporate America today, humanity is minimized. Each figure stands—or peeks over—the edge to evaluate their own success, unaware of the figures above and behind. The viewer seems to have the ultimate view.

Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, "From the Top Looking Down" mixed media on wood, 48"x48"

Michael Jankowski has two pieces in this exhibition that abstractly utilize the human form. With an aggressive drawing style displayed in “Letting Go”, Jankowski forcefully applies charcoal to paper and then gently erases into the surface to revile the likeness to the human form. The aggressive marks—seemingly referring to the chaos of life—are contrasted by a ghostly representation of skeletal remains. The image seems to represent the release of anxiety after leaving the physical form.

Jankowski’s second piece from the collection is titled “Untitled: He’s Number 8”. With a lighter, more delicate touch, this image subtly emerges from the page to invite the viewer into an environment of treasures. Diagonal lines mimic the aggressive marks of “Letting Go” but this quieter technique is less startling. With the implication of a figure buried within layers of random objects, Jankowski seems to be referencing the multitude of “things” that we collect and use to identify our selves. The quiet elegance seems to have a darker message… perhaps it’s an observation of the objects cluttering our personal environments. 

Michael Jankowski, "Letting Go", charcoal on paper, 1997, 25.25"x19.25"

Michael Jankowski, "Untitled: He's Number 8", charcoal on paper, 2000, 24"x18" 

All of the pieces in this exhibition have many layers of content. The images may be enjoyed for their obvious beauty but if you look a little further, deeper meanings will emerge.

The exhibition includes the work of: Janet Doroba, Gary Gordon, Jennifer Jackson, Michael Jankowski, Joe Killiea, Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Roland Kulla, Diane Kunzler, Ginny Mangrum, Maggie Meiners, Julia DelNagro Oehmke, and RK Williams. I will be writing about other presented work in the coming weeks.

The “Selections from the Collection” exhibition will continue through July 8th. 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.
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Final Exhibition at Gallery 180

Maggie Meiners, Flow" Silver Gelatin Print, 2004, 15"x15"

 
After more then eleven years as Exhibition Curator of the various galleries associated with The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, I will be stepping away to focus on other opportunities.

As the Michael Van Zeyl / Paula Kloczkowski Luberda exhibition closes, a show featuring select pieces from the school's fine art collection will be installed. These are among the works that have been acquired from exhibitions over the past decade. The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago has been a strong supporter of the fine art community—acquiring work created by local and nationally recognized artists. These pieces are regularly exhibited throughout the common areas of the college but will come together in Gallery 180 for ease in public viewing.

Included in the exhibition is "Flow" by Chicago area fine art photographer, Maggie Meiners. Her abstract works are strong statements of pattern, surface and texture. Composed in a masterly fashion, the works revile the subject when viewed with more than just a glance.
Mieners' elaborates: 

I am drawn to abstract photography because I have complete control over what it is I am trying to capture, nothing is by accident. I like to see form and art in something most people would not, and bring it to light in a photograph. It doesn’t necessarily matter what the subject is, but whether or not it is open for interpretation. I strive to give new information and provide the viewer with insight into a quality that they cannot ordinarily experience. 

"Flow" is just one of the pieces which will be included in the final professional exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The school's Fine Art Collection can be viewed at gallery 180.com

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.
 
In following with the corporate model, future exhibitions within the gallery will present student and faculty work, which will be selected and installed by committee.
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Paula Kloczkowski Luberda and Michael Van Zeyl: Final Week at Gallery 180

Paula Kloczkowski Luberda
left: "duo" 18.5h x 5.5"d, Stoneware

right: "spiral" 17"h x 1 ¾"dia. Stoneware

This is the final week to visit the Paula Kloczkowski Luberda and Michael Van Zeyl exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The exhibition features Kloczkowski Luberda's coil built, abstract stoneware vessels along side of the figurative and still life paintings of Van Zeyl.

The abstract stoneware vessels created by Kloczkowski Luberda address the material source as concept itself—exposing and embracing the subtle flaws of the medium. Not mass-produced by machine, the subtle imperfections make reference to our own humanity... expressing strength, power as well as vulnerability.

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.

Michael Van Zeyl, Anna 10” x 8” Oil on Panel

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. 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
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Paula Kloczkowski Luberda and Michael Van Zeyl ~ Gallery 180

Tomorrow night from 5:30 - 7:30, Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will host the opening reception for the work of Paula Kloczkowski Luberda and Michael Van Zeyl. The exhibition presents Kloczkowski Luberda's abstract stoneware vessels with the classic figure and still life paintings of Van Zeyl.

The Opening Reception will take place on Friday, March 15 from 5:30-7:30 pm... with all work available for purchase. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. Validated parking is available at the Self Park on the corner of Wabash and Randolph for $14. Enter 1/2 block south of the gallery on Wabash. Ask for a validation ticket when entering the gallery.

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 ~ Previews Monday at Gallery 180

The Reception, 2013, oil on linen, 30 x 24

"The Reception" is just one of the classic figurative paintings, to be presented in the Michael Van Zeyl / Paula Kloczkowski Luberda exhibition which will open this Monday at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago.

With an obvious love for the human form and numerous portrait commissions to his credit, Michael Van Zeyl's figure paintings are known to capture the subtle nuances of his subject's character. The real beauty of Van Zeyl's work is his depiction of the experience of the subject. He explores how light falls on the planes of the face or hands—the reflection of color from one surface to another. His passion—clearly the creation of realism—is found defining the beauty of a woman or the relationships of elements in a still life. His use of light molds a dimensional portrayal onto the two-dimensional panel or linen surface—defining his subject with passion and with the sense of a moment in time.

The Reception - Detail, 2013, oil on linen

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 Monday, 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 is a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago. While running his own graphic design studio, Michael took evening and weekend classes here at the Palette and Chisel and in New York at the Art Students League to advance his training as an artist. Michael is now a full-time professional portrait and gallery artist and has been exhibiting work in various shows and galleries across Illinois & the nation. He has received multiple commissions, honors, and recognition from: Portrait Society of America, Portrait Society of Atlanta and American Artist Magazine.

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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Carl Holzman ~ Hyperreal at Gallery 180

"Antique Iron", oil on canvas, 25" x 25" framed (stained walnut) 2012

Carl Holzman is one of four artists participating is "Hyperreal", an exhibition of photo-realistic paintings, currently on exhibit at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. His imagery is composed of weathered objects from the past, lit and tightly rendered with the focused-intent of a contemporary realist painter. The work conveys nostalgia–a longing for a simpler time. Holzman explains...

The paintings in this series reflect my continuing preoccupations with compositional austerity, textural variety (here conveyed through vintage objects rusted, chipped, patinated or otherwise distressed over time), and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow. The mid-century imagery, with its utilitarian shapes and weathered, plain-spoken character, undergoes an arresting transformation–a kind of abstraction or sublimation–under the influence of arrangement and lighting. Allusions to the recent past (objects) and the deep past (lighting, technique) are filtered through the sensibility of a contemporary painter, suggesting whispered dialog amid the suspended calm.

"Masking Tape", oil on canvas, 25" x 25" framed (stained walnut) 2012

Carl Holzman's paintings are presented with the work of K. Henderson, Allan Gorman, and Roland Kulla. Hyperreal will be on exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through February 28, 2013. 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.

"Calumet", oil on canvas, 25" x 25" framed (stained walnut) 2012

Born and raised in Topeka, Kansas, I received a BA in English and French Literatures from Swarthmore College and an MA in English Literature from The University of Chicago, before earning an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1982. For over two decades I worked in corporate finance in the publishing and healthcare industries.

Although I have drawn and painted avidly since early childhood, I did not pursue art seriously until 10 years ago, when I began studying drawing and painting at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and later with portrait painter Richard Halstead. As my interest in painting grew, I found ways to scale back my day job until several years ago, when I took early retirement and dedicated myself full time to painting.

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K. Henderson ~ Gallery 180

K. Henderson, Blue Skies, oil on canvas, 18" x 24"

Tonight, Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will hold a catered reception for "Hyperreal" an exhibition of photorealistic paintings by K. Henderson, Carl Holzman, Allan Gorman, and Roland Kulla.

K. Henderson is known for her detailed oil paintings of contemporary still life. Hyperreal includes four of these pieces, which highlight pattern and reflection... and the reflection of pattern. Henderson uses these elements to create a complexity that intrigues the viewer into stepping closer—exploring each brushstroke. In discussing her work, Henderson explains:

Black and white striped fabric is simple. Yet when it is folded and draped the result is Complex Patterns. Add a reflective surface and you can get lost in the endless intricacies. Even the simpilest round globe or silver spoon refl ects a Looking Glass world as it distorts the uncomplicated into flamboyant and mysterious. A humble transparant goblet twists the world through which it is viewed and further alters the reflected shapes.

Hyperreal will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through February 28, 2013. An Opening Reception will take place tonight 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. 

Born and raised in Oklahoma, K. Henderson now calls rural New Mexico home. Both locations have provided her with inspiration for her paintings. She is known for her detailed oil painting of contemporary still lifes as well as Western figures. Recent accomplishments include Purchase Award at the Art Renewal Center Salon, being awarded Best of Trompe L’Oeil by the International Guild of Realism, Top 50 in Salon International, inclusion in Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art, Settlers West American Miniature show,The Hubbard Museum of Western Art Biennale Grande winning 2nd place, and being featured in Southwest Art Magazine March 2008 issue and Sept 2008. Henderson won Peoples choice award Richeson 75 International exhibit, and Juror’s Choice Award Breckenridge Fine Art Center. She has gained Signature Membership status with the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. She has attained national recognition with her work, has attracted a growing audience of collectors and has received numerous awards including over 100 Best of Show and First place awards in national juried art shows. Her work has been in several solo museum and gallery shows and numerous group exhibitions including International Guild of Realism, Salon International, Western Spirit Art Show & Sale, Cowgirl Up! Show and Sale, C.M. Russell Museum Benefit Auction, Pastel Society of the Southwest, Pastel Society of America, Mt. Oyster Club, American Academy of Equine Art, Museum of the Cherokee, the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, The Bosque Conservatory, Oil Painters of America National and Regional, and National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Richeson75 figurative and small works exhibits among many others.

Henderson has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine and Oklahoma Today. She has been included in articles in Southwest Art, Art of the West, American Cowboy, Western Art Collector, American Art Collector, Art Talk, Santa Fe Circle, Cowboys and Indians and Art of the Hills. Her work has been in several books including “The American Indians: An Illustrated History” - Turner Publishing, “The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters” - Dr. Patrick Lester, SIR Publications, “Talking Leaves” - Eric Veitch, Verner Bendtsen, “Cherokee Art: Historical Precedents”, University of Georgia Press. She is a member of Oil Painters of America, National Oil and Acrylic Painter Society (NOAPS)
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Allan Gorman ~ Hyperreal at Gallery 180

Allan Gorman, Blue Button, Oil on Panel, 18" x 18", 2012

The work of Allan Gorman was the inspiration and starting point for the creation of the "Hyperreal" exhibition currently on display at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Gorman's work scrutinizes the beauty found in mechanical objects. Gorman explains…

“I look for interesting shapes to explore form, composition, color, texture and emotion. And, although the subject matter demands to be rendered with an increasing degree of precision, my goal is not so much to faithfully replicate objects as it is to distill what I’ve seen into visual stories that resonate and stir memories. I'm looking to abstract, and present a powerful design - whether the viewer chooses to interpret them as representational paintings or not.”

Gorman's work is joined by that of K. Henderson, Carl Holzman and Roland Kulla in an exhibition that is sure to impress viewers through technical excitation and unique compositional presentation. It's worth a visit...

Hyperreal will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through February 28, 2013 with previews beginning on Monday, January 14th. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, January 18 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

Brooklyn-born, Allan Gorman (1947) is a self-taught painter who brings his strengths as an internationally decorated graphic designer to artworks that certainly reflect his own unique and distinctive brand. Soaring chrome exhaust pipes set on a stark blue sky, mirrors that reflect the geometries of industry, a macro trip inside clockworks – hard angles, strong colors and carefully thought through compositions permeate his work which has been seen in dozens of gallery and museum shows and private collections in both the US and Europe. In 2011, Gorman was awarded a resident fellowship to Vermont Studio Center, and work has been featured in International New Painting Annual 2, America Art Collector, Transportation Today and Poets & Artists Magazine. Gorman currently resides in Montclair, NJ.
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Roland Kulla ~ Hyperreal at Gallery 180

Roland Kulla, C&O Canal II, Oil on Canvas, 36" x 48", 2012

Roland Kulla is one of four painters included in "Hyperreal" at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The exhibition presents imagery of objects, selectively-composed and realistically-rendered to intensify their visual impact.

Kulla, a Chicago resident, has been painting bridges—or segments of bridges—for more than two decades. His paintings have been presented on the main stage art scene with recent solo exhibitions in Berlin and New York. Created in the last few months, three new Roland Kulla paintings are included in Hyperreal at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. In discussing his work, Kulla elaborates… 

“I’ve used bridges as my primary inspiration for the last twenty years. Based in Chicago, I began my exploration with the world’s largest collection of bascule bridges. In 2006, I began to branch out to other “bridge cities” including Boston, New York City, and Pittsburgh. In 2011, I explored the bridges in Berlin, Germany.

I select certain design elements and eliminate background context in order to emphasize form. The details of massive structures reveal the many individual components. What may appear to be a random arrangement of bolts and rivets has, on close inspection, a rigidly patterned logic. Abstracted from their surroundings, the bridges take on new aspects. Some look dangerous, others elegant. The forms are presented in “natural” bridge colors in bold contrast to the voids that they span. They float in light that plays across the surface details. The variations can be simple or elaborate, ranging from limited themes of a few notes to grand, fugal extravaganzas.

The subjects are painted to look “real”, but this is a deliberate illusion. I paint an idealized version of reality on a scale that allows the viewer to enter into the structure and appreciate the monumentality of the form.”

Hyperreal will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through February 28, 2013 with previews beginning on Monday, January 14th. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, January 18 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

Roland Kulla lives and paints in Chicago. Recent exhibitions include “Berlinier Liste” ARTexhibitionLink, Berlin, Germany, “Urban Patterns” at George Billis Gallery, New York, and inclusion in the Rockford Art Museum Biennial. Kulla is represented by George Billis Gallery in New York, ZIA Gallery in Winnetka, IL, and James Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA.

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HYPERREAL: Reception this Friday

On Friday, January 18^th, Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will host a catered reception for Hyperreal, an exhibition of paintings created by four nationally recognized artists, selectively-composing and realistically-rendering objects to intensify their impact. The exhibiting artists are K. Henderson, Carl Holzman, Allan Gorman, and Roland Kulla.

Hyperreal will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through February 28, 2013 with previews beginning on Monday, January 14th. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, January 18 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
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Zahra Nazari ~ Worldview at Gallery 180 ...in its Final Days

"Mapping" acrylic on canvas, 48” x 30” 

There are just a few more days to visit the Worldview Exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The exhibition includes work by nine artists from around the country... all defining their individual perceptions of the world in which we share. "Mapping" is one of two paintings by Zahra Nazari, included in the exhibition to benefit Worldview Education and Care. Her rich painterly style presents an abstract composition of man-made cityscapes as seen from above. Nazari explains...

The visual richness found in the structural patterns of architecture, both ancient and modern, especially in its relationship with the surrounding landscape, is the starting point of all my work.

I paint abstract urbanscapes that resemble city maps; they contain aerial views, distorted perspectives, and combinations of different architectural time periods containing both observed and imaginary disjointed places. Sometimes the images baffle even me. I am attracted to this since of ambiguity because it draws the viewer deeper into my imagery.

My mind aims for inventiveness in the painting process, passing time, worn surfaces, surprising shapes, and the mechanics of memory. I aspire to an underlying feeling of complexity and exploration in all of my work.

The Worldview exhibition will close on Friday, January 11th. It's an excellent collection of pieces and  all works are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds donated to Worldview Education and Care. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash... the corner of Lake and Wabash in Chicago's Loop.

Zahra Nazari received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the School of Art & Architecture, Tabriz, Iran in July 2007. She is currently an MFA candidate in Painting/Drawing at SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY and was a recipient of both a graduate scholarship and a teaching assistantship from the Memphis College of Art. Her recent exhibitions include the “6th Annual Master Pieces” at Manifest Gallery and “Reroot” at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, both in Cincinnati, Ohio; “Twenty in Their Twenties” at Woman Made Gallery and “Wet Paint” at Zhou B Art Center, both in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was an artist in resident at The International School of Painting, Drawing & Sculpture, Umbria, Italy. In addition she is the recipient of a grant from the Vermont Studio School in Johnson, Vermont.
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Joann Rea ~ Worldview

Tapestry, oil on masonite, 48" x 36"

Joann Rea is one of nine artists currently exhibiting at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago's "Worldview" exhibition. The work included in the exhibition is diverse—presenting a variety of perceptions and interpretations of the subject, Worldview. The two paintings shown by Joann Rea represent the density of lush forestry in early fall. The images are created with a an obsessively  complex buildup of patterns created with tinny brushstrokes. The brushstrokes emerge into a composition of movement reflecting the transitions of life. Rea explains...

Although both “Tapestry” and “Spirals” are luxuriant paintings of leaves and branches, they are also woven patterns of colors and brushstrokes that lead the eye from one curve to another in the painting. In “Tapestry,” especially, the composition winds its way up the middle of the image, with the leafy brushstrokes following the movement. Straight lines of purple tree trunks both create a stark color contrast and prevent the woven patterns from dominating the composition. “Spirals” is not so much the painting of a tree but more the painting of a tree’s vivid gold and red colors swirling through a maze of green leaves, while the branches hold everything together. 

The Worldview exhibition will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through January 10, 2013. All works are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds donated to Worldview Education and Care. Gallery 180 is located at the corner of Lake and Wabash in Chicago's Loop.

Spirals, oil on masonite, 30" x 24"

Joann Rea has been capturing the nuances of nature and the environment for over 35 years, successfully showing and selling her original oil paintings through a number of galleries across the country. Her work was handled by the Dyansen Galleries of New York throughout the late 1980s and 1990s and was shown in Dyansen galleries in Boston, MA; Soho, NY; Arlington, VA; Waikoloa, HI; Tokyo, Japan; and San Francisco, CA. Independent galleries that have shown her paintings include Marin-Price Galleries, Chevy Chase, MD; Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX; Park West Gallery, Southfield, MI; Kruckmeyer and Cohn Gallery, Evansville, IN; Fisher Gallery, Washington, DC; Main Street Gallery, Annapolis, MD; and the Prince Royal Gallery, Alexandria, VA. Joann currently maintains a studio at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston, IL.

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Murray Hidary ~ The Repercussions of Sandy

Abstract Color Series, Series 17#1 • digital photograph • 40” x 30” 

Producing a national juried exhibition is always a challenge but the stress increases as the work from around the country begins to arrive... or doesn't. Last Saturday morning, as I began hanging the Worldview exhibition in Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, It was obvious that a create was missing. After a sweep of various storage areas, I contacted the artist's representative. She tracked the create to find that it was in New York... detained and possibly destroyed by super storm Sandy.

I hung the exhibition without the two Murray Hidary photographs... But the story does have a happy ending. As I was standing in the gallery—an hour before the private preview reception was to begin—FedEx delivered the crate containing Hidary's work. With a few minutes before the guests were to arrive, I uncreated the work and placed the images on easels. The following morning, the pieces were  appropriately installed—included into the exhibition before the reception and available for purchase.

The Hidary images are amazing colorfield pieces mounted behind glass and floating just in front of the wall. An explanation of these rich and thought-provoking photographs, was offered by his gallery...

The dilemma between what remains objective in photography and what is transformed by one’s own perceptions is met head on by Murray Hidary’s work. The blurred color fields in his Abstract Color Series as well as his progressively blurred objects series’ challenge how we visually organize the world. By defamiliarizing commonly encountered objects, he creates new realms within his photographs that inspire to transcend our grounded notions of perception and reality.

Hidary chooses to bring attention to that which goes largely unnoticed by us through his bare lens. His work is shot in 35mm using primarily Kodak and Fuji films and printed on a variety of surfaces including photographic and watercolor paper. Filters were not used to achieve any of the colors or effects in the work, and the images have not been digitally enhanced or physically manipulated during the developing or printing processes. Hidary’s work frames an alternative view of the world that remains true to its’ original composition from the point a photograph is snapped to the final print.

The Worldview exhibition will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through January 10, 2013. All works are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds donated to Worldview Education and Care. Gallery 180 is located at the corner of Lake and Wabash in Chicago's Loop. 

 

Abstract Color Series, Series 17#2 • digital photograph • 40” x 30” 

Hidary’s work has garnered wide praise and regularly appears in gallery and museum exhibitions. His work is also held in many private collections. His photography has appeared in myriad group shows including the San Francisco MoMA’s 15th Biennial Auction, at the Guggenheim Museum, and the San Diego Art Institute. Solo exhibitions of Hidary’s work have been featured at Karpeles Museum (Santa Barbara, CA), East Link Gallery (Shanghai, China), and the Nabokov Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia).

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Richard Laurent ~ Worldview

Richard Laurent, Veil of Tears, oil on canvas, 24"x48" 

Friday's reception for the Worldview exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago was well attended. Richard Laurent is just one of the nine artists exhibited in the show. His work "Veil of Tears" is from a series of paintings that address Criminal Traditions from a visually symbolic point of view. Laurent's statement reads...

"Around the world, millions of females live too close to their bones and too far from their dreams. They are at risk for honor killing, forced childhood marriage, acid violence, female circumcision, and more. These practices go back thousands of years and still continue today even though they result in the maiming and death of thousands of women each year. This happens worldwide, including in the United States. My work is intended to raise consciousness around these issues because consciousness is the first step toward global change."

Pieces from Laurent's series will be included in a upcoming group exhibition that is planned to travel the country with the intention of raising awareness of this multilayered issue and perhaps leading to social change. Additional information about the Criminal Traditions exhibition can be found on the CAA Exhibition Opportunities board.

The Worldview exhibition will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through January 10, 2013. All works are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds donated to Worldview Education and Care. Please join me this friday for the reception, from 5:30-7:30pm. Gallery 180 is located at the corner of Lake and Wabash in Chicago's Loop.

Richard Laurent is widely exhibited, with numerous awards and recognitions. Recent solo venues include the Atrium Gallery, Fine Arts Building Chicago, Gallery H, Three Oaks, Michigan, and the University Club of Chicago. Laurent has also been included in the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition for the past six consecutive years. Richard Laurent is represented by Gallery H, Three Oaks, Michigan.

Opening Friday at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago

Glory Days  • oil on canvas • 36” x 48” 

This Friday, I will be hosting a reception for the Worldview National Juried Exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The exhibition is a benefit for Worldview Education and Care... a 501(c)(3) charity that supports education and health care services in the Arumeru District of northern Tanzania.

One of the nine exhibiting artists is Chicago area painter, Anne Smith Stephan. Her beautiful subtle abstract colorfield paintings are calming in presenting their emotionally-driven content. The artist explains...

My work explores the wounds of life. Memories of these moments float in the recesses of one’s mind and then­—suddenly—jarring recollections appear out of nowhere, startling in their depth. Many moments in life are tranquil and beautiful, others are unsettling and horrific. My work approaches the range of memories that make up a life.

The Worldview exhibition will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through January 10, 2013. All works are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds donated to Worldview Education and Care. Please join me this friday for the reception, from 5:30-7:30pm. Gallery 180 is located at the corner of Lake and Wabash in Chicago's Loop.

Bloodlines [top] • oil on canvas • 30” x 40” 

Gone [bottom] • oil on canvas • 30” x 40”

Anne Smith Stephan received her BA in Fine Arts and Philosophy at Barat College in Lake Forest, IL. She has studied at the Contemporary Art Workshop, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the Evanston Art Center.

Her work has been exhibited at Woman Made Gallery, Chicago; the James R. Thompson Center, Chicago; Noyes Street Cafe, Evanston; Gallery Mornea, Evanston; and the Evanston Art Center. For several years she was represented by AnamArt Gallery in Naperville. She recently had a solo exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center and is currently in a group show at the Oak Park Art Center.
She was formerly on the faculty of the Evanston Art Center teaching oil painting and is a founding member of the Wilmette Arts Guild. Her work is in many private collections around the country.
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James Deeb ~ Subterranean (no.2)

James Deeb, Subterranean [no.2], oil on board, 9" x 11"

There are just two more weeks to experience the James Deeb exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Deeb's exhibition of paintings and prints explores the decay of the world utilizing the figure as content. The awkward subhuman characters found in Deeb's work are a dichotomy ... seeming both humorously-goofy yet somehow tragic ...yet all are intriguing. 

The paintings of James Deeb will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through November 1.  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.

Carl Holzman "...whispered dialog amid the suspended calm"

Carl Holzman, "Red Ceramic Pot", oil on canvas, 25" x 25" 

While reviewing submissions for the upcoming "Worldview" exhibition, to be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, I came across the amazing paintings of Chicago Artist, Carl Holzman. Holzman—born and raised in Topeka Kansas—exposes his love for distressed vintage objects within his compositions. Treating the objects like the actors on a theatrical stage, Holzman arranges and lights his subjects to satisfy his obsession with composition and the rendering of a form through the use of chiaroscuro. Holzman explains:

The mid-century imagery, with its utilitarian shapes and weathered, plain-spoken character, undergoes an arresting transformation—a kind of abstraction or sublimation—under the influence of arrangement and lighting. Allusions to the recent past (objects) and the deep past (lighting, technique) are filtered through the sensibility of a contemporary painter, suggesting whispered dialog amid the suspended calm.

Nine artists were selected for the upcoming "Worldview" exhibition, which will benefit Worldview Education and Care. Founded in 2007 by Philanthropists, Ann and Robert Avery, Worldview Education and Care is a 501(c)(3) charity that supports education and health care services in the Arumeru District of northern Tanzania near Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Worldview exhibition will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago from November 5, 2012 through January 10, 2013. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, November 9 from 5:30-7:30 pm. All works will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds donated to Worldview Education and Care.

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

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