Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Opening this weekend at The Art Center-Highland Park



There are four wonderful exhibitions opening this weekend at The Art Center-Highland Park. Although the exhibitions are on view, the reception is scheduled for Friday, May 22 from 6:30-9pm. The shows include: Meditative Surfaces, Aftereffect; a solo exhibition by Teresa Hofheimer, From Nature; a national juried exhibition and a presentation of public sculpture by Eric H. Steele.

This latest version of the always-evolving fine art exhibition, Meditative Surfaces, brings together the work of six very different artists—with a visually reoccurring theme that explores the meditative influences of variations on repetition. The show is comprised of two painters; Charles Gniech [myself] and Rebecca Moy, a mixed media artist; Deanna Krueger, two photographers; Maggie Meiners and Doug Fogelson, as well as sculptor; Josh Garber. The work produced by this group of artists, is assembled to encourage audience introspection.

Teresa Hofheimer, Loss of Innocence, pastel on linen 48 x 30"

Teresa Hofheimer - Aftereffect
Aftereffect is a series of paintings and drawings—produced sporadically over the past decade—which address the power and resilience of the human spirit in the aftermath of tragedy. The work is a reaction to our society’s increase in gun violence. Hofheimer points-out that “Since 2001, more than 5,000 people have been killed on the streets of Chicago, outpacing the 2,000 killed in Afghanistan.” She continues to explain the victims are typically our youth. Half the recent victims are under the age of twenty-five. The concept is harsh yet the imagery is approachable and thought provoking.

Jody Berns, In the Heat of the Night, photograph 12 x 12"

With beautifully composed imagery created by conceptually driven fine artists, From Nature— national juried exhibition—offers a fresh look at the world around us. The exhibition presents an exciting and alternative view of elements found within nature. Highland Park resident, Jody Berns is included in the exhibition with a twelve-inch square black and white digital photograph titled “In the Heat of the Night”. The image presents a confined thorny botanical composition utilizing strong chiaroscuro to silhouette the sharp yet inviting forms. The title alludes to the passions of the forbidden—like Joseph Cornell’s boxes—presenting the uncomfortable dichotomy of pleasure and pain. Less conceptual imagery in also included.

Eric H. Steele, Victor, steel, 96 x 28.5 x 21

TAC also presents the large-scale sculpture of Eric H. Steele in The Center's sculpture garden with smaller pieces shown in the foyer. Steele’s beautiful steel constructions address the space between destruction and hope. Steele's work will be presented through December 12th. The other shows mentioned above continue through July 10.

The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park. The gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 9-4:30 and on Sunday, by appointment. All of the works on exhibition are available for purchase.

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level. 

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Meditative Surfaces ~ The Art Center-Highland Park

Doug Fogelson, “Dirt (Illinois)”, Photogram / Ed. of 6, 24" x 20"

Save the Date: Friday, May 22, 6:30-9pm

The always evolving fine art exhibition "Meditative Surfaces" will be presented at The Art Center-Highland Park from May 7 through July 10 with an open reception on Friday, May 22 from 6:30-9pm. This exhibition brings together the work of six-very different-fine artists with a visually reoccurring theme of variations on repetition. The show is comprised of two painters; Charles Gniech & Rebecca Moy, a mixed media artist; Deanna Krueger, two photographers; Maggie Meiners & Doug Fogelson, and sculptor; Josh Garber.
 
Originally presented as a three-person exhibition exhibited at Schoenherr Art Gallery, North Central College; Naperville, Illinois in 2009, the work invited the audience to "lose themselves" in the surface patterns and textures the meditative acrylic paintings of Charles Gniech, the mixed media imagery of Deanna Krueger and the abstract photography of Maggie Meiners. The updated show has further evolved to present the most current works of the original three and to explore new objects of interest including the tactile aluminum sculpture of Josh Garber, photograms in saturated hues by Doug Fogelson, and the whimsical and organically complex paintings by Rebecca Moy.
 
It's true that a picture is worth a thousand words... The exhibition is a journey that offers a glimpse into each individual artist's life through the experience of his or her personal passion.  While each piece of art offers a unique visual experience, the work comes together to offer a grander message—one of sanctuary, inner piece and harmony. As with a dramatic sunrise, Not at all quite and reserved, the show presents visuals evoking every emotion. Color palettes range from peacefully subtle muted tones to brilliant saturated hues. And as in nature, the forms range from organic to aggressive.

A public reception for “Meditative Surfaces” will be held at The Art Center-Highland Park on Friday, May 22 from 6:30-9. The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am–4:30pm and Sunday, by appointment. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition continues through July 10.

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level. 
Doug Fogelson (Born Chicago 1970) studied photography at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College Chicago. His photographic manipulations are displayed in notable public and private collections such as The J. Paul Getty Center, The Museum of Contemporary Photography, The Cleveland Clinic and exhibited with esteemed galleries. He has been recognized by publications including Art News,Photo District News, Art Forum, and AfterImage. Doug Fogelson founded Front Forty Press, an award-winning independent fine art publishing company, and has taught in the Photography Department of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is an advocate for the fine arts and social/ecological sustainability.

Josh Garber, “Turn”, Powder Coated Welded Aluminum, 39 x 36 x 34"

Josh Garber (Born 1963) works and lives and Chicago. He is a recipient of the Canada Council B Grant and Pollock-Krasner grant and has completed public commissions in Phoenix, Chicago and Cincinnati. After receiving his BFA from Alfred University, Garber participated in The Kohler and Sculpture Space residencies. Currently he is represented with Zolla/Lieberman Gallery in Chicago, Turner Carroll Gallery in Santa Fe and Melissa Morgan in Palm Desert, CA. 

Charles Gniech, “Anomaly”, Acrylic on Canvas, 40” x 60”

Charles Gniech (Born: Chicago 1962) lives and works in Chicago. He holds a Master of Fine Art degree with an emphasis in painting and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in illustration, both from Northern Illinois University. While teaching, curating, and consulting, Gniech continues to paint—exhibiting at the national level. His work has been repeatedly presented at both The Rockford Art Museum and The Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Gniech’s paintings have been acquired for numerous public and private collections, with a large canvas recently purchased for the Permanent Collection of The Fort Wayne Museum of Art. His work is represented by Bluestone Gallery in Philadelphia and Gallery H in Three Oaks, Michigan. 

Deanna Krueger, “Neptune” Mixed Media, 63” x 63”

Born and raised in Michigan (1965) and currently living in Chicago, Deanna Krueger is an Instructor at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, teaching courses in painting and design. Krueger holds a Master of Fine Art degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan. She has been awarded artist residencies at Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts in Saratoga, WY, at Ragdale in Lake Forest, IL, and at Contemporary Artist Center In North Adams, MA. Krueger’s work has been exhibited nationally as well as internationally with exhibits in Berlin and Rome. A solo exhibition of Krueger’s work was presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago in 2010, and at Wright Gallery at College of Lake County in 2015. Krueger’s work has been acquired for a number of public and private collections including a recent acquisition for the Permanent Collection of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

Maggie Meiners, “Untitled #3”, Photographic Print, 10” x 10”

Maggie Meiners (Born: Chicago 1972) work has most recently been seen as part of the Chicago Project-Catherine Edelman Gallery, the Anne Loucks Gallery in Glencoe and is currently up at HBF Textiles in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. She has also exhibited at various museums and colleges around the country. Maggie’s work is included in numerous public and private collections including, Harrison Street Lofts, Wheaton College, and The Illinois Institute of Art. Meiners currently serves on the Board of the Filter Photo Festival, is a member of the Advisory Committee at the Museum of Contemporary Photography and is the Founder of Co-Star Collective. Meiners grew up outside of Chicago and continues to have her work regularly featured at galleries, executive offices and private collections.


Rebecca Moy, “Aquatic”, Acrylic on Canvas, 44” x 48” 

Rebecca Moy (Born: 1980, LaGrange, Illinois), is a 2003 graduate of Columbia College Chicago where she studied visual arts management. Since, Rebecca has completed a visual arts residency at River East Art Center, Chicago; worked with the Field Museum for live painting exhibitions and has had the honor of exhibiting solo at the prestigious Union League Club, Chicago, Illinois Institute of Art, Park Schreck Gallery, Curly Tale Fine Art, Heir Gallery and Orland Park Public Library, IL and several other group exhibitions. Rebecca’s paintings are in the permanent collections of Neiman Marcus, The Dana Hotel, Resonant Legal Media, Northwestern Mutual, MD2 International, and several privately owned. Rebecca simultaneously works on private commissions and is in the beginning of a new series entitled “Aphasia” which directly addresses the experience of losing a parent in her unique sense of color and composition.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

The Art Center-Highland Park ~ From Nature

Save the Date: Friday, May 22 from 6:30-9pm

Jody Berns, “In the Heat of the Night”, Digital Photograph, 12” x 12” 

This past weekend, I selected work for inclusion into the "From Nature" exhibition, to be presented at The Art Center-Highland Park this spring. With beautifully composed imagery created by conceptually driven fine artists, “From Nature” offers a fresh look at the world around us. The exhibition presents an exciting and alternative view of elements found within nature.

Highland Park resident, Jody Berns will be included in the exhibition with a twelve-inch square black and white digital photograph titled “In the Heat of the Night”. The image presents a confined thorny botanical composition utilizing strong chiaroscuro to silhouette the sharp yet inviting forms. The title alludes to the passions of the forbidden—like Joseph Cornell’s boxes—presenting the uncomfortable dichotomy of pleasure and pain.

James Tansley, “Hot Aspect”, Acrylic on Canvas, 18” x 24”

“Hot Aspect”, a vibrant abstract acrylic painting created by Chicago Artist, James Tansley, will  also included in the “From Nature” exhibition. With complex botanical references, the intimate canvas combines gestural organic forms with a refreshingly spring color palette.

Other—more literal—interpretations of the nature theme will be seen throughout the exhibition including; a large format photograph by Ilza Arajs [Evanston, IL] of an ostrich fern unfurling, a simplistically beautiful photographic composition of an eggshell by Vera Todd [Evanston, IL], and a tightly-painted composition of seashells, situated on a highly polished surface, by Chicago Artist, Helen Oh. I'll be talking more about these artists in future posts.

“From Nature” will be presented at The Art Center-Highland Park from May 7 through July 10, with a public reception scheduled for Friday, May 22, from 6:30 to 9pm. The Art Center-Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, Illinois. Gallery Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am–4:30pm and Sunday, by appointment. All work in the exhibition is available for purchase. The exhibition continues through July 10.

The Art Center-Highland Park is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of contemporary fine art through exhibitions by both established and emerging artists. We foster creativity through the experience and discussion of fine art and offer extensive educational opportunities through a broad range of classes, panel discussions, workshops and lectures. A nonprofit organization, The Art Center-Highland Park connects artists with the community at large—supporting creativity at every level.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Art Shay at The Art Center-Highland Park


Muddy Waters and his wife Geneva in Chicago, 1951 Art Shay image

The Art Center-Highland Park will host a reception tonight celebrating the work of world class street photographer, Art Shay. The exhibition chronicles segments of Shay's life... from moments with his family and beloved wife; Florence, through his time in the military, and his work as a Chicago-based freelance photographer—which landed him thousands of assignments for Life, Time and Sports Illustrated.

Many of the images offer a nostalgic view of the 50's and 60's including beautiful celebrity portraits of Brando, Liz Taylor and a variety of music greats including Muddy Waters. But the images that stand out are those that seem timeless: Children playing on the back porches of a  ghetto, silhouettes of military men waiting at a train station, and the weathered faces of working class middle America. The exhibition is filled with emotion... a bit of humor and moments of interspersion.

The reception is tonight from 6:30 to 9pm. The exhibition continues through April 4th. All of the prints are available for purchase. The Art Center – Highland Park is located at 1957 Sheridan Road in Highland Park, IL 60035


For over 70 years, Art Shay has documented his life, combining his gifts of storytelling, humor and empathy. Born in 1922, he grew up in the Bronx and then served as a navigator in the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, during which he flew 30 bomber missions and 22 aid missions. From 1947-1949, while on staff as a writer for Life magazine, Shay wrote hundreds of bylines while helping out some of the greatest of Life's photographers. In 1949, Shay became a Chicago-based freelance photographer, landing thousands of assignments for Life, Time, Sports Illustrated and other national publications. Shay photographed nine US Presidents along with many major literary, business, entertainment, science and political figures of the 20th century. A world class street photographer, Shay wondered countless miles throughout the 1950s exploring the city with author Nelson Algren, the winner of the first National Book Award. Shay wrote weekly columns for various newspapers, several plays, children's books, sports instruction books and several photo essay books including "My Florence" which was released February 2015. Art Shay's photography is included in the permanent collections of museums including the National Portrait Gallery and The Art Institute of Chicago.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Breaking Criminal Traditions ~ Additional Programming: Friday, February 27 at 7pm


Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Overwhelme, Stoneware, 6 x 6 x 6.5" 

Please join us on Friday, February 27 at 7pm, for evening of Free Programming in conjunction with the fine art exhibition, Breaking Criminal Traditions on view at The Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College

The evening will include a Dance Performance Piece by Jasmin Jahal, followed by a Panel Discussion lead by Breaking Criminal Traditions Executive Producer, Cheryl Jefferson, and a screening of the documentary "Honor Diaries". The event should conclude at 9pm.

The Madden Theatre is located in the same building as the Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College… 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540. We look forward to seeing you!

Additional Information:
The art of influence... Breaking Criminal Traditions is an exhibition created to raise awareness of global criminal traditions. Criminal traditions are ancient, ongoing rituals that kill or maim millions each year—yet they are rarely considered crimes. In creating awareness and beginning a dialogue, the intention is to promote change from within each affected culture.

Debuting in 2013 at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, variations of the exhibit have been presented at: The Beverly Art Center, The Art Center-Highland Park and the Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College. Each new venue presents a unique body of work—incorporating select pieces from prior exhibitions, as well as new works. All of the pieces are selected to allude to the issues without being overtly obvious. The content of the exhibition addresses the harsh reality of the world in which we live—and the intense beauty of empowerment and freedom. Additional information can be found at BreakingCriminalTraditions.com
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Friday, February 13, 2015

Opening Tonight: Breaking Criminal Traditions at the Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College

 

Opening Tonight: Breaking Criminal Traditions at the Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540. The event is from 6:30-9

The art of influence... Breaking Criminal Traditions is an exhibition created to raise awareness of global criminal traditions. Criminal traditions are ancient, ongoing rituals that kill or maim millions each year—yet they are rarely considered crimes. In creating awareness and beginning a dialogue, the intention is to promote change from within each affected culture.

Debuting in 2013 at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, variations of the exhibit have been presented at: The Beverly Art Center, The Art Center-Highland Park and the Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College. Each new venue presents a unique body of work—incorporating select pieces from prior exhibitions, as well as new works. All of the pieces are selected to allude to the issues without being overtly obvious. The content of the exhibition addresses the harsh reality of the world in which we live—and the intense beauty of empowerment and freedom.


The exhibition includes work by: Corinna Button, James Deeb, Sheila Ganch, Charles Gniech, Sergio Gomez, Andrea Harris, Lelde Kalmite, Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Richard Laurent, Kathy Liao, Chandrika Marla, Nancy Rosen, Lorraine Sack, Dominic Sansone, Valerie Schiff, Barbara Simcoe, and Anne Smith Stephan.

The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions opens tonight with an Opening Reception from 6:30-9pm. All works are available for purchase. The Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College is located at 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540. The Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition will continue through April 6, 2015. Additional information can be found at BreakingCriminalTraditions.com
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Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Breaking Criminal Traditions at the Schoenherr Gallery of North Centeral College, Opens Friday


Charles Gniech, Bound, Acrylic on Canvas, 40x60"

This Friday, the latest incarnation of The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition will open at the Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College in Naperville. The exhibition features artists from around the country, calling attention to ongoing ancient rituals that kill or maim millions each year. The exhibition utilizes the beauty of high-quality fine art to allude to human rights issues.

The exhibition is filled with symbolic imagery with multiple levels of meaning. Bound a 40 x 60 inch acrylic painting, can be seen as a tied figure but the ropes can be seen as metaphor for the psychological constants that are imposed on victims of violence and abuse. The heroic figure isn't restrained by the rope, yet he seems to grasp for the fibers that restrict him.

The exhibition includes work by: Corinna Button, James Deeb, Sheila Ganch, Charles Gniech, Sergio Gomez, Andrea Harris, Lelde Kalmite, Paula Kloczkowski Luberda, Richard Laurent, Kathy Liao, Chandrika Marla, Nancy Rosen, Lorraine Sack, Dominic Sansone, Valerie Schiff, Barbara Simcoe, and Anne Smith Stephan.

The Art of Influence: Breaking Criminal Traditions opens Friday, February 13th with an Opening Reception from 6:30-9pm. All works are available for purchase. The Schoenherr Gallery of North Central College is located at 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540. The Breaking Criminal Traditions exhibition will continue through April 6, 2015.