Reception: Breaking Criminal Traditions at the Beverly Art Center, May 3rd 7-9pm

Please join me for the reception of "The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions" at the Beverly Art Center, this Saturday, May 3 from 7-9pm. The exhibition includes; paintings, drawings, prints, photography and sculpture by fifteen accomplished fine artists. They include: Corinna Button, James Deeb, Sheila Ganch, Clair Girodie, Sergio Gomez, Andrea Harris, Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Richard Laurent, Kathy Liao, Zoriah Miller, Nancy Rosen, Lorraine Sack, Valerie Schiff, Barbara Simcoe, and Anne Smith Stephan.

The exhibition was created to raise awareness of global criminal traditions. Criminal traditions are ancient, ongoing rituals that kill or maim millions each year, yet are rarely considered crimes. Each piece of art included in the Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition has been selected to allude to these issues without being overtly obvious. The content of the show walks a blurred line between the horrifying reality of the world in which we live and the intense beauty of empowerment and freedom.

The Beverly Art Center is located at 2407 W. 111th Street, Chicago, IL 60655 The exhibition continues through May 18th. Learn more at: BreakingCriminalTraditions.com

The Art of Influence... Breaking Criminal Traditions at The Beverly Art Center

Installation View: Foreground: Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, "Connected" ceramic stoneware, 12 inch diameter Background: Kathy Liao, "Little Feet" oil on canvas, 40 x 30"... and two pieces by Sergio Gomez: "Mask of Fear", acrylic on paper/canvas,  and "Mask of Deception"  acrylic on paper/canvas, each at 33 x 84". 

I spent yesterday installing the latest adaptation of the Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition at the Beverly Art Center. The expansive space of the center, allows for more than fifty works-of-art to flow from the main gallery through the adjoining corridor and into the ground-level social area. The works included in the exhibition, imply issues associated with global criminal traditions. These traditions are ancient, ongoing rituals that kill or maim millions of people each year—yet go unpunished. The intent of the exhibition is to utilize the beauty of high-quality fine art to raise awareness of these criminal traditions and—in doing so—begin a dialogue that may encourage change.

A reception for the Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd from 7-9pm and the show continues through May 18th. The Beverly Art Center is located at 2407 West 111th street in Chicago. The Center’s business hours are Monday through Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 1-4 pm. Hours are subject to change so call ahead… 773.445.3838

Foreground: Valerie Schiff, "Venus" bronze, 27 x 6.5 x 9".

Breaking Criminal Traditions includes the work of artists: Corinna Button • James Deeb • Sheila Ganch • Claire Girodie • Sergio Gomez • Andrea Harris • Paula Kloczkowski Luberda • Richard Laurent • Kathy Liao • Zoriah Miller • Nancy Rosen • Lorraine Sack • Valerie Schiff • Barbara Simcoe • Anne Smith Stephan

Additional Information can be found at BreakingCriminalTraditions.com
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Breaking Criminal Traditions ~ In its Final Days at IIT Chicago - Kent College of Law

Nancy Rosen, Dreaming Comes True, Mixed Media, 44 x 30"

The Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition, currently on view at IIT Chicago - Kent College of Law, will come to a conclusion on April 12th. The exhibition, which is being presented on the third floor of 565 West Adams in Chicago's Loop, has been on view since October 10th. The show presents the work of eleven artists, ranging in media from painting and drawing to photography and sculpture. The work presented, alludes to global criminal traditions... traditions  that are ancient, ongoing rituals that kill or maim millions of people each year. These rituals typically go unpunished because they are rarely considered crimes. 

I've compiled pieces that walk a fine line between beauty, and the horror of the traditions. Only one of the represented Artists—Richard Laurent—has intentionally created imagery, defining the traditions. The other Fine Artists were invited to participate specifically because of my interpretation of their content... content that can represent one or more of the many issues at hand. These issues include: Honor Killing, Human Trafficking, and Forced Child Marriage. The show approaches many others. 

The intent of the exhibition is to raise awareness of criminal traditions and begins a dialogue. In doing so, the exhibition—and the various events that accompany it—may encourage change. 

The Art of influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions is on display through April 12. The gallery is located on the 3rd floor of the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, located at 565 West Adams Street in Chicago [the corner of Adams and Jefferson]. Street Parking is abundant and entry is free. The gallery hours are: Monday-Thursday 7:30am-11pm, Friday 7:30am-9:30pm, and Saturday 8:30am- 6pm. Most of the pieces included in the exhibition are available for purchase. Additional information can be found at BreakingCriminalTraditions.com.

Nancy Rosen was born in Chicago and—except for her four years at the Kansas City Art Institute where she earned a BFA in painting and sculpture—this is where she has remained. Her mixed media imagery—mostly figurative—is created using a blend of oil bars, china markers, graphite, and oil paint. Each unique piece is created with combinations of these materials applied to the surface of hand-made papers or linen. The images emerge from an infinite number of rich colorful layers. Rosen’s work has been included in numerous exhibitions across the country. Recent venues include the Kansas City Art Coalition, Elmhurst Museum, Milliken University, The Post Family, and The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. Nancy Rosen continues to devote her life to painting, exhibiting, and teaching.
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3rd Friday's... Check out the 2nd Annual Bridgeport Art Compeitition

Six Chicago-area artists were awarded a total of $3,000 in prizes at Bridgeport Art Center’s 2nd Annual Art Competition awards ceremony on the evening of March 8.

I recently became aware of an art community just south of downtown Chicago, in Bridgeport. I've been meeting with artists to review work for upcoming exhibitions, and came upon the Zhou Brothers Art Center and—almost right across the street—the Bridgeport Art Center. Both locations house artist studios and both host a 3rd Friday event at which time the studios and galleries within the buildings, are open to the public.

The Zhou Brothers Art Center, located at 1029 W. 35th Street, Chicago, is open from 7-10pm and includes an opening for an exhibition of work by the Zhou Brothers from their American Period. The show, described on their web site, presents...  "a selection of works from the 1990's as one of the most pivotal periods in the art career of the Zhou Brothers. A decade that was characterized by permanently establishing themselves in Chicago while projecting exponentially in Europe and throughout the world."

NIU's MFA exhibition is presented in the second floor gallery. The ten artists include five painters, two sculptors, a metalsmith, a printmaker, and a video installation artist.

While you're in the building, make sure you attend the opening reception of "Monochrome" the spring, Galley Artists, exhibition at 33 Contemporary Gallery. The works presented in the exhibition range from painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and mixed media.

When you're finished there... head over to the Bridgeport Art Center, located at 1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago. Make sure that you see the 2nd Annual Bridgeport Art Center Competition on the 4th floor. The show opened a couple of weeks ago and it's been touted as "a diverse and fascinating overview of contemporary art in Chicago." If you don't have an opportunity to attend tomorrow's event, the show continues through April 18th. I should also mention that one of my paintings was included into the 2nd Annual Bridgeport Art Center Competition... It was awarded "Best in Show". The 3rd Friday event at the Bridgeport Art Center runs from 6-10pm. 
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2nd Annual Bridgeport Art Competition

Charles Gniech, "Grounded" 2012, acrylic on canvas, 60" x 40"

Save the Date: Saturday, March 8th 7-10pm

Please join me on the evening of March 8th for the opening reception and award ceremony of the 2nd Annual Bridgeport Art Competition. My painting, "Grounded" 2012, was selected for inclusion. The exhibition—housed in the forth floor gallery—will present the works of seventy-four area artists.

“This large exhibit presents a diverse and fascinating overview of contemporary art in Chicago.” said Lelde Kalmite, Curator at the Bridgeport Art Center.

The Bridgeport Art Center is located at 1200 West 35th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60609. The exhibition continues through April 18, 2014. Additional information can be found at: bridgeportart.com
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To Summon Spring @ ZIA Gallery

Had enough of Chicago's winter weather? 

Opening this Saturday, at ZIA Gallery in Winnetka, is an exhibition of color-saturated, vibrant works of art, by eleven of the gallery artists. The exhibition includes painting, photography, mixed media and sculptural works. The show titled "To Summon Spring" was conceived by Anne Hughes and includes work by: Ted Preuss, Mary Burk, Melissa Jay Craig, Michael Cutlip, Kathy Weaver, Karina Hean, Fumiko Toda, Jonathan Ricca, John Vlahakis, Anne Hughes and myself. If your life is lacking a bit of color, this is the perfect solution.

The Opening Reception of "To Summon Spring" is Saturday, February 22 from 5-7pm.  ZIA Gallery is located at 548 Chestnut in Winnetka, Illinois... 17 miles north of Chicago. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am–5:00pm. Stop by and check it out.

Above Image:
Top Row: Ted Preuss, Mary Burke, Melissa Jay Craig and Michael Cutlip
Middle Row: Kathy Weaver, Karina Hean, Charles Gniech, and Fumiko Toda
Bottom Row: Jonathan Ricci, John Vlahakis, and Anne Hughes
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Corinna Button ~ A Studio Visit

Corinna Button, "Watching you watching me watching" Acrylic, ink & charcoal on canvas 109 x 72in

The “…Breaking Criminal Traditions” exhibition—currently on display at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law—has gained a great deal of attention. Audiences seem to be drawn to the visual content and touched by the issues that the paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures represent. Since the opening of the show, two other Chicagoland venues have expressed interest in acquiring the exhibition—the Beverly Art Center and The Art Center of Highland Park. As the Exhibition Curator, I decided early on, to select a unique mixture of fine art pieces for each new venue. That said… I continue to explore new work.

Yesterday morning, I met with fine artist, Corinna Button at her studio at the Zhou B Art Centre in Bridgeport. Button—an exceptionally prolific artist—explores the human condition. Her figurative imagery is presented through layers and layers of surface—paint, ink, graphite, and collage—symbolic of the layers of life experience that we collect over time. Occasionally, portions of the layers may be erased or even ripped from the surface …perhaps to remove a bit of the collected armor.

Exploring the studio walls, it was obvious that Button communicates with honesty and passion. Each object demands the viewer’s attention. Each tells its own story. As we discussed the work, I pointed out that interpretation is the result of the viewer’s history and experience—at times, void of the artist’s intention. With this, it was obvious that many of Button’s works were appropriate for inclusion in upcoming presentations of “…Breaking Criminal Traditions”.

The exceptionally large “portraits” found in Button’s studio, are just a sample of the imagery she is currently producing. One of these appears to be the interpretation of a child bride—adorned with the ornate fashion of a foreign land. The pensive stare conveys a loss of hope… the questioning of the future. Other pieces reference Human Trafficking, Circling and issues related to Honor Killing. To be clear… this was not the artist’s intent. These references are strictly an interpretation. Incidentally, I gravitate to many of Button’s pieces for their ornate beauty and haunting honesty.

Select pieces of Corinna Button’s work will be included in upcoming presentations of “The Art of Influence… Breaking Criminal Traditions. Watch for it at the Beverly Art Center [April 18-May18, 2014] and The Art Center – Highland Park [November 7 – January 3]. Information for receptions will be included in future posts. Additional information about the exhibition can be found at BreakingCriminalTradition.com

After completing her Fine Art degree at Leeds, Corinna Button went on to study Printmaking in London, gaining much attention for her works. Now with her pieces in many high profile collections including the BBC and Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Button has exhibited at the Zhou B Art Centre in Chicago and is a respected member of the Royal Society of Painters and Printmakers.
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