Art Consciousness

2006-09-01T16:02:00.000-05:00

Joan Stolz recently gave an art gallery talk as part of the High Noon lecture series connected with the faculty exhibit in the Parkland College Art Gallery through September 21. Her comments on the nature of influence and borrowing from other artists and moments in culture were particularly interesting.

T.S Eliot's "The Wasteland" depicts a modern wasteland combining many levels of literary allusion with multiple voices of ordinary, exterior overheard voices and voices within the individual wandering solitarily through the world. Eliot's original title for the poem was "He do the police in different voices," which has a curious postmodern or contemporary rap feel to it. In some cases, the use of reference to other works is used to point to continuity in the human experience.

In altering pictures, or reinterpreting or reimagining pieces like some in Stolz's collection, the attempt is a combination of homage and a comic ownership of human experiences. We give a nod to the shared experience through the ages, but put our own comic twist on it.

As a Joyce scholar, I realized that much of the research related to music centered on Joyce's use of allusion as a narrative tool. In part this was in keeping with the modern tendency to see the world in a moment of crisis and collusion at the same time. My own focus was on the way in which Joyce framed or reimagined allusions to music in his texts. Instead of focusing on the original and looking for similarities, I concentrated on the new staging of the piece. Who was performing it and for what audience? Joyce draws attention to the cultural moment within his works, but he also connects the present and the past.

Joan Stolz's commentary on her own paintings reminded me of this restaging, with the same ironic twists, the same sense of fun. Stolz shows us an image which we recognize as familiar. If we pay a little closer attention, it may make us reconsider what we thought we knew.

Gallery Opening

2006-08-28T14:16:00.000-05:00

Meet the President Opening Remarks August 24 2006

Good evening. My name is Seamus Reilly and I am the Chair of the Fine and Applied Arts department here at Parkland College. I would like to welcome you all to the Faculty Art and Design exhibit in this the 25th anniversary season. I would like to thank Carl Meyer and Julie McGown from the Parkland College Foundation for their sponsorship of this reception, Dr. Tom Ramage for his support of improvements to the gallery, Lisa Costello, Art Gallery Director, and Emily Klein for the wonderful work they have done in setting up the show, Paul Young for his design of the poster and invitation cards, and Jordan Kaye and friends for their music.

It is a distinct honor and pleasure to formally welcome Dr. Robert Exley and his wife Anita to the Parkland Art community. During his visit with us last spring, Dr. Exley told us about a creative artist in Miami who was developing a variety of interesting pieces on the campus. He was confronted by a lover of plain concrete who told him that he was doing violence to the campus. The artist brilliantly replied, "No, violence is the absence of art."

In telling that story, President Exley gives us an insight into his own understanding of the importance of art as a means of communication. Artists put into action the lessons that we teach our students: Never stop learning; be passionate and care deeply; take risks in pursuit of your visions.

George Bernard Shaw wrote that "Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable." I believe that the works on display here today make the world a brighter and more bearable place.

We are immensely proud of The Parkland College Art Gallery, which has received recognition from the Illinois Arts council, and is a beautiful space to view works of art. The gallery also performs an important role by showcasing Parkland faculty and student work as well as other artists from throughout the country. The Gallery also serves as an important civic and community outreach for Parkland College.

The exhibit tonight teases us out of our mundane world and asks us to look at ordinary objects a little differently. It allows us the freedom to imagine the world in different colors, from different angles, using different materials. Our artists open themselves up to us and help us to understand life experiences through their brilliant and creative depictions of their own experiences.

Pablo Picasso said that "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls" and we invite you, President Exley, to regularly join with us and be refreshed in your enjoyment of our artists' works.

Fine & Applied Arts

Art Consciousness

Gallery Opening