human ~ A National Juried Exhibition to benefit Heartland Alliance

Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago presents: “human", a collection of fine art, from around the country, that explores the human form as well as the human condition. The exhibition includes a variety of painting, drawing, photography and sculpture. Commissions from the sale of work, included in this exhibition, will be donated directly to Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights which provides life changing opportunities to people around the world who are homeless, seeking safety or living in poverty.

I selected twenty artists from around the country to present their work in this exhibition. This year, the exhibiting artists are: Christopher Andres, South Bend, IN; Marisa Andropolis, Algonquin, IL; Tamie Beldue, Black Mountain, NC; E. Thurston Belmer, St. Louis, MO; John Benedetto, Winnetka, IL; Brandon Briggs, Bowling Green, OH; Adrian Cox, St. Louis, MO; Audry Cramblit, Chicago, IL; Matthew Dercole, Chicago, IL; Benjamin Fedosky, Berkeley, CA; Sheila Ganch, Chicago, IL; Vesna Jovanovic, Chicago, IL; Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Naperville, IL; Jason Lascu, Nashville, TN; Catherine Maize, South Haven, MI; David Mazure, Milford, PA; Nichole McCormick Santiago, Williamsburg, VA; Ted Preuss, Chicago, IL; Jim Tansley, Chicago, IL; Kenju Urakubo, Jackson Heights, NY; and Jonathan Weiss, Chicago, IL

The plaster-sculpted self-portrait, by Benjamin Fedosky [shown above], is included in the “human” exhibition. The piece was inspired by a trip to the ancient city of Pompeii. Fedosky explains…

Displayed among the ruins were plaster casts made from the bodies buried in volcanic ash. These stark and evocative artifacts impressed me immensely. Upon returning home, I began working in directly modeled plaster. This technique involves building a form that is both modeled and carved as the plaster sets until the sculpture is finally realized. The work began as a study of my face. The face quickly became a head, then a bust, developing over a month’s time through a concentrated dialogue between the process, subject, and materials.

“human” will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through March 1, 2012. Previews begin on January 16th with a catered Opening Reception scheduled for Friday, January 20th from 5:30-7:30pm. 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—and images from the exhibition—can be found at gallery180.com.

Benjamin Fedosky is a sculptor and painter living in Berkeley, CA. He studied at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1997-1999 and has since developed a self-directed approach to his art and studio practice. Working primarily with the sculpted human form and the painted landscape, Fedosky uses suggestive modeling, active surface treatments, and expressive mark-making to create evocative works that pursue the essence of subject and form. Fedosky has exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the U.S. and in Canada, and his works are held in selected private collections.

.

Sheila Ganch ~ human

Image: Sheila Ganch, "Clustered" • stoneware, aluminum, limestone • tallest form 21” each base is 3” x 3” • 2011

I received a shipment of exhibition catalogs for the "human" exhibition, from the printer today. I've work with Modern Postcard for a number of years and they always seem to do an amazing job... and they did it again. The twenty-four page 8.5 x 11", full color catalog, documents the various artists selected for this exhibition. After the pieces were selected, each of the artists were ask to provide a short statement and a one-hundred word biography. This information was used to create the catalog, which will be used to promote the show and to help with the sale of the work.

The "human" exhibition was produced as a benefit for Heartland Alliance. Commissions from the sale of work, will be donated directly to Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, which provides life changing opportunities to people who are homeless, seeking safety or living in poverty. Copies of the catalog will be sent to my collector base and will be available during the exhibition at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. The exhibition opens to previews on January 16, 2012.

One of the sculptors included in "human" is Sheila Ganch. Her grouping of abstracted figures titled 'Clustered", has elements of stoneware and aluminum. In talking about her work, Ganch explains:

A string of challenges are considered and resolved in the creation of these clay forms. The material is sculpted, coaxed, textured, low fired, pigmented, and finally high fired to produce the stoneware sculpture. The final form is mounted on limestone. A single figure in the grouping is cast aluminum, which was sand casted from one of my original stoneware forms.

A reflection of my process, these pieces emerge from an intuitive level that evolves when the clay, stone and metal merge to create what is a thought provoking artistic form. This final form does not exist within a vacuum, but can only be seen as a result of the process. “Clustered”, is the result of a this process. It seeks to capture a sense of community that is missing from our present social and political environment. These figures are gathered to share and honor their differences.

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. Other work by Sheila Ganch can be found at: sculpturebysheilaganch.com

Sheila Ganch received her degree from Ohio State University, but considers her postgraduate training with other fine sculptors to be the reason for her success. Her work has been exhibited at the Bellevue Washington City Sculpture Show, The Fort Wayne Museum of Art; Fort Wayne, IN, The Chicago Cultural Center, The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, The Harold Washington Library; Chicago and Veridian Gallery; New York. Ganch is currently represented by Gallery H; Three Oaks, Michigan, and The Chicago Art Source Gallery; Chicago.
.

Ted Preuss ~ human

Image: Ted Preuss, "Recline", Silver Gelatin Print, 17" x 22", edition of 10

One of the amazing artists, selected to exhibit at the upcoming "human" exhibition, soon to be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago is photographer, Ted Preuss. Preuss, a Colorado native, is currently living and working in Chicago. His work is not new to me. I've followed his career for the past six or eight years. His imagery has always been tasteful and exquisitely elegant. Three pieces will be included in the exhibition. Preuss defines his work:

The subject matter in which I photograph is not unique. It is what captures my mind’s eye and imagination. As an artist, I have always been interested in the human form and its many interpretations. I believe there is something inherently beautiful about the human body.

Through my lens I seek to capture the elegance and natural beauty of the female form, yet secretly wishing to leave traces of their identity forever. My images are studies in light and form, which blend formal and sensual qualities, radiating the individuality of my subjects through their emotion-laced gestures. Consequently the images I have captured have a warmth inner beauty with a poetic and distinct elegance.

Join us for "human", which opens to previews on January 16th. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, January 20th from 5:30-7:30. The "human" exhibition is a national juried exhibition benefiting Heartland Alliance. Commissions from the sale of work, will be donated directly to Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, which provides life changing opportunities to people who are homeless, seeking safety or living in poverty.

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. Other work by Ted Preuss can be found at: preussphotography.com

Ted Preuss, a self-taught photographer, was born in Colorado in 1962. He picked up his first camera at the age of seven and instantly became obsessed with the nature of the medium. His passion for photography led to a career as a freelance architectural photographer for a decade in Boston and San Francisco. Today his work is primarily fine art B&W photography using vintage view camera with century old lenses. The process of making prints is as important to him as the practice of creating photographs. Preuss chose hand coated platinum-palladium as a medium for its distinct vintage quality and archival properties. His work been featured in Zoom Magazine, Focus Magazine, and Large Format Magazine.
.

human ~ a national juried exhibition

Above is an image of Young Suk James Kim's "Expulsion" which was just one of the pieces acquired for The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago's Permanent Fine Art Collection. It became a part of the school's collection as a purchase award during a show titled "The Human Form" which was presented at Gallery 350 from July 31 - September 6, 2006. Well, It's time to explore figurative imagery, once again, with "human" a national juried exhibition, which will run at Gallery 180 from January 16 through March 1, 2012. The Deadline for entry [received] is Saturday, October 15.

This National Juried Exhibition is open to all artists, living or working in the US. Work must be original. All media except video and installation are eligible. Sculpture is encouraged. No size restrictions. Each artist may submit up to 3 pieces for the entry fee of $30.

The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will purchase at least one piece from the exhibition for inclusion into the school’s Permanent Collection. The collection is diverse and can be viewed online at gallery180.com. The Purchase Award/s will be selected by committee and will be announced at the opening reception.

All submitted works must be for sale. The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago will retain a 50% commission from all purchases made during the exhibition. A portion of the commission will be donated to Heartland Alliance for their work in Human Rights. The exhibition will be highly publicized. A color exhibition catalog will be produced to help promote sales.

You can download the Exhibition Prospectus on the home page at gallery180.com

Image: From The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago Corporate Collection: Young Suk James Kim, "Expulsion" oil, 56" x 66"
.