Monotype Invitational
- Curated by Robert Lee Mejer
- November 10 - December 10, 1999
Monotype Invitational, featuring the works of contemporary monotype artists, was at the Parkland Art Gallery November 10-December 10. Curator, Robert Lee Mejer, wanted viewers to observe the variety and spontaneity of the medium. Participating artists included: Sarah Amos, Roger L. Crossgrove, Nancy Frises, Oscar Jay Gillespie, Thomas H. Majeski, Dennis Olsen, and Joseph Zirker. This exhibit was one of the few in the Midwest to focus on the possibilities and richness of monotype as a serious medium for artistic expression.
Overall the show was a kaleidoscope of color and collage. Many of the artists used layers of monotypes to create colorful images. The works varied in size and subject, but all captured the sense of spontaneity that defines the medium. In their artists' statements, several of them expressed delight in how unpredictable and abstract it is to work with monotypes. Most draw directly onto the plates with no predetermined ideas, thus developing their works in the process of creating them.
This exhibit is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Copyright Notice: All images and photos on these pages are copyright of the artists or gallery and may not be used for any purpose without written permission.
The Art We Live With: Collections from Central Illinois
- Curated by Ann Khan and Charlotte Wandell
- October 2 - November 5, 1999
"The Art We Live With: Collections from Central Illinois" was at the gallery from October 2 to November 5, 1999 and showcased a variety of works owned by art collectors here in central Illinois. Guest curators Ann Khan and Charlotte Wandell invited 18 local patrons to share a piece from their personal collections. The exhibit included contemporary paintings, ceramics, glass pieces, Japanese prints, and Islamic miniatures. It was exciting for gallery patrons to see the diverse taste of art collectors in Champaign-Urbana. The exhibit reflected the eclectic interests and experiences of the people in our community, many of whom have lived and traveled abroad or in other areas of the United States.
To add insight to the exhibit, each contributor was asked to reflect on their reason for collecting art. Many pieces exhibited had meaningful histories and personal significance for each collector. These statements gave the participants an opportunity to share their passion for collecting art, as well as their precious connection with a specific piece of art. This relationship is many times overlooked in exhibitions, but it is the collector's passion for art that helps to sustain the artistic community and preserve the visual arts.
This exhibit is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Copyright Notice: All images and photos on these pages are copyright of the artists or gallery and may not be used for any purpose without written permission.
Annual Parkland Art Faculty Exhibition
- August 23 - September 24, 1999
The annual "Parkland Art Faculty Exhibit" opened Monday August 23 and continued through Friday, September 24. Several new faculty members, Laura O'Donnell, Peggy Shaw, Joan Stolz, and Paul Young, exhibited with the gallery for the first time. Students and the community as a whole enjoyed seeing the art work that encompassed the broad spectrum of art courses and media available at Parkland. It was a chance to look at what the faculty have been creating outside the class room. Viewers had the opportunity to see the caliber of instructors in the Parkland Art Department and recognize the faculty as professional artists.
This exhibit benefits both students and teachers - giving an opportunity for students to become familiar with their instructor's work and offering a forum for instructors to experiment with their craft. These experimental works serve as a reminder to students that exploration is an important part of being an artist.
Participating artists included Louis Ballard, Chris Berti, Jodie Bowen, Ann Coddington Rast, John Ekstrom, Juanita Gammon, Robert Laible, Don Lake, Sally McMahan, Craig McMonigal, Laura O'Donnell, George Rehrey, Denise Seif, Peggy Shaw, Joan Stolz, and Paul Young.
Programs at the Parkland Art Gallery are partially supported by Parkland 好色先生tv Student Activities. This program is partially sponsored by an Illinois Arts Council Grant.
For more information please call 217-351-2485.
Works of Clay
Gil Stengel and Yukiko Muroe both work with clay, but the results couldn't be more different. Muroe works sculpturally creating pieces through slab construction. Stengel is a more traditional potter, often creating thrown vessels. This exhibit provides an interesting visual exchange between hand-built and wheel-thrown elements.
Muroe's work focuses on everyday life, believing that "Art exists in our ordinary life instead of extreme situations or abnormality." Muroe creates sculptural art from these impressions, capturing quiet, introspective moments in her pillow box forms. Through subtle details and careful framing she entices us to focus our attention on a small niche. She leaves this niche empty, encouraging us to take a moment for contemplation.
Stengel focuses more on the design of functional pieces. His work stems from an interest in large Minoan vessels from the island of Crete, where he has studied this ancient pottery on and off for the last ten years. He thinks of himself as a designer who uses the potter's wheel to produce contemporary patterns in celebration of the Minoan vessels. Of his work he says, "These pieces continue a long series that I will continue to work, think, and dream in."
Both Muroe and Stengel challenge themselves through the science of their art, using new clays and wood firing techniques to achieve the effect they have imagined. This exhibit is a testimony to the multitude of effects an artist can create from clay, and highlights Muroe and Stengel's talents of observation and design.
This exhibit is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Copyright Notice: All images and photos on these pages are copyright of the artists or gallery and may not be used for any purpose without written permission.
Other Traditions
"Other Traditions" featured the work of four regional artists whose unique treasures are influenced by a variety of traditions, including folk art, African-American art, and Haitian beadwork. The participating artists include Stephanie Kuhns, Marilyn Dean Cleveland, Jim Foster, and Michael Mullen. Each artist uses his or her media to blend personal experiences and interests with visual expression.
Stephanie Kuhn's, a local artist from White Heath, creates incredibly detailed pieces of narrative embroidery. Her work has a playful feel with the use of bright colors, beads, and rows of metallic sequins outlined by the delicate edge of antique embroidered handkerchiefs. Each image draws from a meaningful experience, some of them dealing with harsh realities of life. Kuhns hopes that her experiences will resonate in others as a call to awareness of our shared humanity.
Champaign artist, Marilyn Dean Cleveland also hopes that her work has the ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages, cultural history, and heritage. Cleveland is a prolific artist, working in a variety of media. Her works featured in this exhibit are colorful sculptural pieces that draw attention to some basic aspects of daily life. But she also uses her painting to express fantastical narratives on such mundane objects as bottle caps and old bottles.
Jim Foster also has a talent for creating whimsy out of the ordinary. A resident of Urbana, Foster departed from his usual field of photography to create a population of sculptural "critters." These critters came to life from a variety of found objects, a bit of imagination, and Foster's passion for paleontology. Foster is comfortable with this intersection of personal interests and says his work "just started jumping out of my fingers." Indeed, his critters add an animated dimension to this exhibit.
Michael Mullen teaches journalism at Vincennes University in Indiana and, like Foster, has succeeded in finding artistic inspiration from several disciplines. Mullen is interested in finding the essence of his subjects and searches for understatement through simplicity. His paintings create a visual puzzle or pun through the repetition of heavily outlined objects against blocks of bright color.
This was an eclectic show, whereas, all of the artists involved have a passion for making art. Influenced by their life experiences and diverse backgrounds, they are able to express another side of themselves with their work. "Other Traditions" honors the variety of paths that lead to creativity.
Copyright Notice: All images and photos on these pages are copyright of the artists or gallery and may not be used for any purpose without written permission.
1999 Parkland Fine Art Student Juried Exhibition
Have you ever wondered what the art students have been learning in their classes at Parkland? The Fine Art Students exhibit gave us a chance to see the results of their arduous work. Art students learn basic principles of design and form in their many courses at Parkland. Good design skills were evident in the work produced for the two-dimensional and three-dimensional courses. Sculpture, photography, metalwork and ceramic pieces were also on exhibit. An assortment of drawings, from still lifes to figure studies, displayed many students development in drawing expertise. The variety of paintings demonstrated several different techniques and provided us with a visual splendor. This exhibit was a commanding show of the talent and learning that has been encouraged in the Art department all year. The exhibit highlighted the accomplishments of many talented, dedicated and hard working students.
The exhibition in itself is a learning experience. The students must edit a years worth of production down to only four works to be entered for consideration. These pieces must be presented in a professional manner. The work is then juried by the art faculty as a whole who must narrow over 500 entries down to a manageable number to be displayed in the gallery. The students learn some of the tough realities of juried exhibits and competition with their peers. An impressive 139 students were represented!
Four top honors were given to students exhibiting in the Fine Arts Students Juried Exhibition:
- Ji-Young Kil of Urbana received the Cinnia Vaky Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes sustained excellence in studio disciplines as well as academic performances. The scholarship was established by Russell Vaky, of Champaign, in memory of his mother.
- Karen Ryan of Champaign received the Merchandise award from the Art Coop, for sustained studio excellence.
- Wilma R. Witt of Rantoul received the President's Award for Excellence for her ceramic sculpture, "Drift".
- Susanna Sanchez of Urbana received the Department Chairs' Award for her sterling silver constructed ring.
Fine Art Student Exhibitors 1999
- Sarah Aagasen
- Nicoleta Albu
- Joanna Amberger - (Merit Award and Purchase Award)
- Lindsey Arends
- Leonor Assuncao
- Veralee Atkins
- Ju Bang
- Lisa Barber
- Heather Bennett - (Merit Award)
- Jason Bentley - (Merit Award)
- Neil Bernstein
- Ricky Biddle
- Elizabeth Birky - (Merit Award)
- Heather Bittner
- Kathy Bloch
- Adam Boskey
- Michael W. Bowers - (Merit Award)
- Julie Brandmeyer
- Linda Brewster - (Purchase Award)
- Tommy D. Brown II
- Jessica Brubaker - (Merit Award)
- Kate Burner - (Merit Award and Purchase Award)
- Brian Butler
- Kristin Cain
- Candy Campeggio
- Sara Carr
- Carrie Charette
- Alyce Chesra
- Hong-Youl Choi - (Merit Award)
- Brian Clark - (Purchase Award)
- Mike Cochran - (Merit Award)
- Corbin Covher
- Magaret DeCarty - (Merit Award)
- Abby Delmotte
- Elizabeth Denton - (Merit Award)
- Scott Deppe
- Erinn Dody
- Cheryl Drake
- Bryan Drew
- Debbie Duderstadt - (Merit Award)
- Linda Dumich - (Merit Award)
- Carmen Egulf
- Jacob Emberton - (Merit Award)
- Myung Eun An
- Kara Fadden
- Harold Fleming
- Jeanne Freeman - (Merit Award)
- Jes Gadbury
- Stephanie Gaines - (Merit Award)
- Natalie Glaser
- Sean Gordon
- Rebecca Haigh
- Katrina Hanners
- Jessica Hanrahan
- Stephanie Hill - (Merit Award)
- Lisa Homann
- Gabriel Horton
- Kathy Horton
- Jennifer Hotz - (Merit Award and Purchase Award)
- Aaron Houser - (Merit Award)
- Gail Hug
- Sandy Hynds - (Merit Award)
- Atusushi Iha
- Soon Young Jeon
- Audrey Jerrolds
- Josh Johanek - (Merit Award)
- Ji-Young Kil - (Vaky Award)
- Young Mee Ko
- Ellen Kordik
- Charl Krauss - (Merit Award)
- Susie Lake - (Merit Award)
- Melissa Lareau
- Lisette Leburton
- Alex Lee
- Kang-Won Lee - (Merit Award)
- Xuesong Li - (Purchase Award)
- Dianna Lienard
- Yun-Hyung Lim - (Merit Award)
- Julie Loza
- Vicky Lybarger
- Maralee C. Lyons - (Merit Award)
- Mays Mahayni
- Janette Maher - (Purchase Award)
- Molly Malone
- Mwansa Mandela - (Merit Award)
- Barbara Marcketta
- Ruth Marrett
- Laura McCain
- Sarah McDevitt
- Ann McDowell - (Merit Award)
- Lawrence McGown - (Merit Award)
- Tracy Melton
- Jeremy Miller
- Jamie Miller
- Ryan Miller
- John Nine
- Kathryn Norris - (Merit Award)
- John O'Connor
- Becky Oles - (Merit Award)
- Penelope Osio Brown
- Casey Owens
- Jackie Parks
- Tom Philpott
- Randy Plankenhorn
- Angela Ray
- Gloria Rayburn
- Jon Reis
- Rebecca Renwick
- Thomas Richard
- Victoria Ruiz
- Julie Rusk
- Karen Ryan - (Art Coop Award)
- Nichole Samson
- Susana Sanchez - (Department Chair's Award)
- Steven Seghi
- Judy Selen - (Merit Award)
- John Short
- Kathleen Skamel
- Cindy Smith - (Merit Award)
- Rochelle Smith
- Mary Stasheff
- Liddia Stevens - (Merit Award)
- Guokuang Sun
- J. Matthew Sutton
- Kayo Tsuyama
- Kurt Turner
- Carroll Valli
- Diane Waltermire
- R.C. Wicklund
- Wilma R. Witt - (President's Award)
- Ingeborg Yates
- Duandvan Zhao
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Parkland is a section 504/ADA-compliant institution. For accommodation, call 217/351-2505.
Copyright Notice: All images and photos on these pages are copyright of the artists or gallery and may not be used for any purpose without written permission.
Watermedia/Diversity: State of the Art 1999
- Curated by Glen Bradshaw
- February 18 - March 26, 1999
The "State of the Art National Biennial Watercolor Invitational" was held February 18 through March 26. University of Illinois Professor Emeritus Glenn Bradshaw brought together the work of twenty artists, handpicked for their diverse selection of styles and subject matter, and recognized as masters in the field of watermedia.
Participating artists included: Catherine Anderson, Edward Betts, Gerald Brommer, Keith Crown, Janet Fish, Carol Hammett, Patricia Harrington, Kathleen Jardine, Serge Hollerbach, William Lawrence, Anne A.R. Massie, DeLoss McGraw, Dean Mitchell, Carole Pickle, Patricia Reynolds, Thomas Sgouros, Pat San Soucie, Carl C. Sublett, and Mary Wilbanks. This exhibit focused on watermedia paintings, but as Prof. Bradshaw explained in his curator's statement: "Choosing to limit the view by medium narrows the field some but technically and ideologically there is still great diversity." Although Bradshaw selected the artists, the actual work submitted for the exhibit was left to each individual.
Watermedia is any waterborne paint, such as transparent watercolor, tempera, or gouache that is applied to paper or a paper-like material. Multiple Works done with this media can vary greatly in appearance, from fluid transparent watercolors to tightly controlled layers of thin washes. As in any medium, being a meaningful watermedia artist requires more than skill. The artists selected for this exhibition are known for their individuality and personal expression. Bradshaw stressed that it is not the "how" in a painting that should be emphasized but the meaning and feelings that are most important. Pieces in this exhibit were inspired by literature, locations, and childhood memories and incorporated a range of artistic genres which included including abstraction, portraiture, and narrative.
Landscapes and still-lifes seem to serve as a traditional subject for watercolorists, but it was exciting to contrast the many artists' approaches to these and other inspirations. Keith Crown's piece, "The Inside Out - Near Taos, NM" was a playful interpretation of the desert, using energetic strokes and geometric shapes. Yet Catherine Anderson's "Song of the Earth" gave an ethereal, but realistic depiction of the prairie through a more controlled style of layers in the watercolor. Anne Adams Robertson Massie's "Passeggiata - Perugia II" depicted a colorful crowd in Italy and invited the viewer to walk into its photo-like image with long diagonals and mirage of motion. Gallery viewers were mesmerized by Kathleen Jardin's "Barbison Millennium" a painting inspired by the art of the Dutch Baroque, and filled with both Eastern and Western symbolism. Other artists, like Pat San Soucie and Mary Wilbanks, exhibited pieces that were abstract reflections of personal ideas and images.
This exhibit was a testimony to the wealth and variety of watercolor artistry. It was meaningful to have such a talented group of watermedia artists at the Parkland Art Gallery. We thank Mr. Bradshaw for putting together such a beautiful show for the gallery.
This exhibit is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Copyright Notice: All images and photos on these pages are copyright of the artists or gallery and may not be used for any purpose without written permission.
Objects of Wonder: A new way of looking through glass
- Curated by Ed Francis
- January 11 - February 12, 1999
Objects of Wonder" the studio art glass invitational, opened on January 11 and ran through February 12. This exhibit provided an opportunity for us to see how disparate glass can be, from sculptural works to functional bowls. Guest curator Ed Francis explained in his statement, "In selecting artists for this exhibition I have attempted to show diversity in the combination of craft and concept." The inherent properties of glass provide a complex rhetoric to work with. The glass artist must come to terms with the intrinsic dichotomies found in glass, such as its fluid, yet ridged qualities. The six participating artists: Jackie Pancari, Matt Janke, Pamina Traylor, Michael Aschenbrenner, Fred Tschida and Mark McHugh, all made use of the unique properties of this fascinating media.
Jackie Pancari's large glass balls filled with water, entitled "Spheres", played with transparency, distortions and reflections. "My love for the sensual and optical qualities of glass combine with my fascination for phenomena culminates in these works." Matt Janke draws upon the natural qualities of glass when he creates his work. Most of his works on exhibit were functional, from a large blown bowl to a unique pendulum lamp. As a glass artist and metalsmith he views glass as a precious material. He sees it as he would a beautiful colored gemstone; glass is something that can be worked with and amplified.
Pamina Traylor, from California, has found that glass is an ideal vehicle for linguistic explorations. Through her work, she examines the way we learn and how the subtext of language influences our values. She is also interested in certain dichotomies: strength verses vulnerability, protection verses confinement. Michael Aschenbrenner also deals with the dichotomy inherent in glass. His work in this exhibit explored objects and tools used and created by humans. Aschenbrenner works in a direct manner often combining sections of pulled glass forms with wraps of cotton gauze. As he states, "From a technical point of view, much of my work is quite simple. It does not attempt to flatter the viewer. I made no attempts to seduce the viewer...There is no reliance on techniques for its own sake."
Professor of Glass Design at NYSCC at Alfred University, Fred Tschida, exhibited two sculptures. These works had a scientific or analytical feel while still manipulating the transparent qualities glass has to offer. In "Encapsulated Bubbles" Tschida created a glass block that when viewed from the polished lens-like face, one could see small air bubbles trapped within the glass. A counter point to Tschida's work was the series by Mark McHugh. McHugh's "Glide I-IV" presented a very playful use of glass. He created curious alien forms that floated in small sail boats on the surface of the gallery pedestals.
"Objects of Wonder" was an excellent example of how wonderful works in glass can be. When selecting artists for this exhibit Ed Francis stated, "As a glassworker I am interested in many diverse uses of glass. I am particularly interested in the necessary combining of methods with the conceptual." No matter what method of glass working was used, this exhibition was a spectacular display of talent by artists from across the nation.
This exhibit is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Copyright Notice: All images and photos on these pages are copyright of the artists or gallery and may not be used for any purpose without written permission.