Press Release: Art @ the Y hosts exhibition featuring local artists on the environment

Contact:  

Ann Rasmus, Program Director 

Office: 217-337-1514 

E-mail: ann@universityymca.org 

Website: http://www.universityymca.org/art/current 

Art @ the Y hosts exhibition featuring local artists on the environment 

Please publicize exhibition period from January 24 – February 23, 2013. 

On Thursday, January 24th, Art @ the Y will host the opening reception of 'Artists on the Environment,' Paintings by Molly Briggs, Glen Davies, and Viktoria Ford.  A viewing of the exhibition will begin in Murphy Gallery on the first floor of the Y at 6:30pm.  Artist talk is at 7pm. 

In 'Artists on the Environment,' three local artists each offer a unique vision that invites the viewer to explore their own relationship to the world around them and the ecological challenges of the day.  These artists have been featured in numerous galleries such as Art Institute of Chicago, Krannert Art Museum, and the Zg Gallery, and in press such as New City,  Art In America, Chicago Tribune, and the News-Gazette.  Molly's work has been described as 'East Asian landscapes, still life compositions, and underwater ecosystems,' Viktoria's 'rivers, trees, blood vessels, and lungs,' and Glen's 'a vast visual dictionary of images and icons.'  These artists have branched in their own way, but keep their roots deep in the local art movement.  

Curated by Viktoria Ford, 'Artists on the Environment' will be on view weekdays from 9am to 9pm, through February 23rd. 

Some of the most profound insight, critique, and creative thinking around issues which comprise the mission of the Y happen in and around the arts.  Art @ the Y seeks to engage issues of social justice, international understanding, environmental activism, faith and cultural understanding through quality arts programming.  

For more information on each artist, please review the following links. 

Molly Briggs 

http://www.mollybriggs.net/Molly_Briggs.html 

http://www.zggallery.com/briggs_reviews.htm 

'Clearing 9' by Molly Briggs 

Glen Davies  

http://www.glencdavies.com/index.html  

'The End of Time' by Glen Davies

Viktoria Ford  

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/art/2010-01-17/studio-visit-viktoria-ford-champaign.html 

 'Amazon Swan Song' by Viktoria Ford

'Mission In Action: Arts and the Incarcerated'

Art at the Y's exhibit 'Beyond Lines: Limited Expressions from the Men Within Danville' was recently featured in the November issue of the Y USA Member News.  This means that every Y in the USA knows that we're a 'Mission In Action.' 

"At the University Y, we recognize that some of the most profound insight, critique, and creative thinking around issues which comprise the Y happen in and around the arts," says Program Director Ann Rasmus.  We stand out because we stand up for the arts as a powerful medium to engage issues of social justice, as well as cultural understanding and environmental activism.

We'd like to take this moment to sincerely thank the students of the University Education Justice Project and the men at Danville Prison for putting this exhibition together to challenge assumptions about 'prison art' and incarcerated people. We also extend our gratitude to the campus and broader community for their continued support.  We couldn't do what we do without you!   

Check out the article from  Y USA Member News

...and then keep on the look out for exciting things to come from Art @ the Y this Spring semester!

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