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Christopher Art Gallery in Chicago Heights asked artists for works that elicit the idea of memory whether addressing loss, pleasant thoughts of earlier days, nightmares, nostalgia or other recollections.
Gallery director Beth Shadur curated the submissions for the juried exhibition Memory, which opened Jan. 2 and continues to Jan. 25 at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.
“Memory is something that is very open to interpretation,” she said.
“I did get a wide range of submissions in terms of the kind of work, some of which was very obvious about the feeling of memory, evoking a memory or nostalgia or maybe just even sometimes a disturbing memory. Then some of them I could see by the artist’s statement why it had to do with memory.
“Memory can be so many different things for so many different people.”
Best of Show and two Juror’s Merit Awards will be presented at the Jan. 17 reception for the 19 artists displaying 22 pieces in Memory.
“Oftentimes the artist will come and speak a little bit about their work to our students,” said Shadur of Highland Park.
“We try to hold (receptions) when classes meet so that’s always nice when faculty bring their classes. We get classes from drawing, painting, photography, art history and art appreciation so whoever has classes that day will often (attend).”
Memory features acrylic prints, fiber art, mixed media, paintings, manipulated and regular photography, and sculptures by artists including Arlington Heights, Chicago, Evanston, Joliet, Libertyville, Palatine, Park Forest and Westmont residents.
“It’s an interesting exhibit in terms of the range of expression. It’s got landscapes. It’s got things that are fun memories of childhood. It’s got very evocative pieces that really evoke the idea of memory,” Shadur said.
“It’s a good chance to see a wide range of work and to see work that is compelling.”
Upcoming exhibits at Christopher Art Gallery include The Poetry of Sculpture by Chicago Sculpture International members from Feb. 5 to 29 with a Feb. 7 reception and Power featuring feminist works by Lilach Schrag and Ginny Sykes from March 11 to April 11 with a March 13 reception.
Other exhibits include Annual Spring Student Showcase of Art from April 22 to May 15 with a reception and Humanities Festival on April 24, and Personification featuring portraiture by Ronit Bezalel, Paul Branton, Martin Giese and Julian Williams from June 3 to July 17 with a June 12 reception.
“This is an opportunity particularly for folks from the area to see work of the caliber that you see at museums and galleries in (Chicago),” Shadur said.
“Not only are (the shows) diverse in medium but diverse in the kind of creative expression whether it be work that reflects social issues or work that’s absolutely beautiful to work that makes you think.”
Christopher Art Gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays and by appointment.
“It’s highly important in this time to enjoy art, music, theater, writing, all those things, because that’s what we need right now,” Shadur said.
Daily Southtown
“All we do is hear horrific news and frightening things and we need to have some of the other.”
Memory reception
When: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 17
Where: Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights
Admission: free
Information: 708-709-7738; prairiestate.edu/artgallery
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.