Saturday, October 15, 2005

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

What is 17.5' high and where?

As reported in The Southern Illinoisan: ". . . [S]tudents of Carbondale Community High School will have new art inspiration added to their daily lives. John Medwedeff, a Murphysboro sculptor who has displayed more than a dozen pieces of public art across the nation, will unveil his latest work at 5 p.m. in the cafeteria courtyard of CCHS.

The art for CCHS was commissioned by Carbondale Community Arts as part of the ArtWorks initiative. ArtWorks aims to place fine art in public educational spaces throughout Carbondale as an effort to heighten arts awareness and access for all students."

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

September's First Friday Artist

Visual Artist Najjar Abdul-Musawwir received his education in the School of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL. He uses his Islamic belief and abstract painting to develop his artwork from his African-American experience. As an assistant professor of art Najjar “has exhibited regionally, nationally, and internationally.” According to Najjar, “His paintings must reflect spiritual pleasure, energy and vision through the use of color and line movement.” His philosophy: “Inspiration from Allah (Al = One and lah = God) must be in the soul to produce Islamic art in any human experience.” Najjar has provided art and/or consultant services, lectures and workshops to public and private institutions. He has spoken at colleges and universities in the United States on topics of Islamic, African, and African-American art. He has worked with regional, national, and international Muslim artists. Some of his works: “Free- Dom Series,” “Garment Series,” “Ghanaian Stool Series”, “Islamic Love Letters,” and “Fatiha and Door of Return.”

Thursday, July 07, 2005


Sculptor Tom Horn with his creation.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Attn: Art Lovers

Who says there's nothing new under the sun? Visitors to the new downstairs lounge at the Newell House will notice a bright copper sun created by Thomas Horn. These brilliant metal fabrications may be purchased through Art Lovers Trading Company by the summer solstice.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Jane Plain Plans Plenty

Lisa Ann Doane will be the featured artist at June's First Friday presentation. Known far and wide for her "Jane Plain" line of accessories, Lisa plans to exhibit entirely original designs of totes, purses, pillows, jewelry and clothing.

Outside Art Lovers Trading Company at May's First Friday show, featuring gourds by Fran Jaffe and chairs by Rory Jaros.
posted by some guy

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Chicago sculptor to create piece for library

Chicago sculptor to create piece for library: "An aluminum and stainless steel mobile that utilizes the unpredictability of the wind will grace Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Morris Library upon completion of the expansion/renovation project.

The wind-driven piece by Chicago sculptor Evan Lewis will hang in the vestibule of the library's north entrance. A rotating exterior piece will turn the interior mobile based on wind direction and velocity.

Funding for the project is from the long-standing Illinois Capital Development Board's Arts-in-Architecture program. The state sets aside one-half of one percent of any construction budget on CDB-built facilities to buy art for buildings by artists who live in the state.

The outside piece is 24 feet in diameter when stretched out, and will weigh about 300 pounds. The inside piece is 36 feet high, and will move in a cylinder that has a diameter of 16 feet, Lewis said. The piece will be about 12 feet off the ground, and weigh about 500 pounds. Rotors and two exterior secondary arms will connect the two pieces."

Sunday, May 01, 2005

CCHS students display art

Daily Egyptian: High school students display art: "Students from Carbondale Community High School displayed their artistic talents Thursday night in the school's main hallway with the hopes of receiving a few hundred dollars.

The Beta Eta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha played host to the exhibit, which awarded $300 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third. The awards were made possible through the sponsorships of both local businesses and greek and non-greek organizations on campus.

Carbondale Community High School art instructors Connie Morgan, Frances Swedlund and Gloria Jones had the daunting task of picking through the multitude of entries and selecting the six finalists for the competition part of Thursday's exhibition. Although all works for the contest were on display, the finalists were signified with yellow ribbons. Separate judges made their top three selections from these pieces.

'It was very hard for us the judge the pieces,' said Morgan, who has taught art at the high school for six years. 'We really had to just take ourselves out of it and try to judge the best work.' University professor Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, one of two judges Thursday night, said he was impressed by the overall exhibition and the students' use of their specific mediums.

The show featured various types of artwork, including sculptures, paintings, photography and sketches. John Torphy, a senior who will study art and design at the University in the fall, took first place for his photo spread, which used three photographs of a young girl to show the burdens placed on youth. 'In one photo, she's standing in thorns, and if she moves any direction, they'll hurt her,' Torphy said. 'The idea is that children are burdened at a young age by things they shouldn't have to deal with.'

Casey Worrell was awarded second and Melissa Evans third. Katey Karayiannis, a senior who will attend SIUC in the fall, was one of the finalists in the competition. She said although she didn't win, she was surprised and pleased just to be in the finals, especially once she saw the quality of the other entries."

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Mr. Sandman

Victor DeGraff established the Sands of Time studio in Cobden, Illinois in 1980. There he developed a technique of using all natural colored sands to make permanent sand paintings. He was drawn to the southern Illinois area due to the abundance of natural colored sandstone in the area. Not restricted to that area, he has gathered sands from all parts of the United States, as well as traded sand colors with members of the International Sand Collectors Society’s some 1500 members. Some of the more vibrant colors come from minerals like azurite, sodalite, etc. collected by a fellow sand painter in South Africa.

Thursday, April 07, 2005

A Window Between Worlds -- Art Show Benefit for Women's Center

A Window Between Worlds -- Art Show Benefit for Women's Center: "'Heal Your Soul: Art for Empowerment' at the Associated Artists Gallery. The gallery is located at 715 S. University Avenue in Carbondale. On 'The Island,' the same building as the Chicago Underground Bar. The pieces will hang the entire month of April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month."

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Fran Jaffe, Gourd Artist, First Friday, May 6

Fran Jaffe was born in Oak Park and currently resides in Carbondale, Illinois. A self-taught artist, she began painting in 1995 after meeting an artist in Arizona who demonstrated the Australian Aboriginal dot art technique to her. Fran's inspiration has come from her many travels throughout America, India and the Middle East. She has a deep admiration of Tibetan thangkas and mandalas, Native American painting and beadwork, Australian Aboriginal art and the artisans who create such work.
posted by some guy

Her mission is to bring together spiritual symbols and images of all cultures to show the similarities and unity of the human spirit that has existed since the begining of time.

Fran paints with mixed media on gourds, slate and granite tiles, river rocks and wood as a symbol of unity with our ancestors. She uses individual dots of acrylic paint to create the illusion of beading, which comes together in colorful and spiritual images. She most recently has begun to employ dye methods and faux batik in her artwork.

Ms. Jaffe is proud to be a part of the Illinois Artisans Program. Her work is currently on exhibit at the following galleries:
  • Thompson Centers Artisans Shop, Chicago, Il.
  • Dickson Mounds Museum Shop, Lewiston, Il.
  • Rend Lake Artisans Shop, Whittington, Il.
  • Sanibel Art and Frame Gallery, Sanibel, Fl.
  • Healing Earth Resources Center, Chicago, Il.
  • Visions Art Gallery, Makanda, Il.
  • Owl Creek Winery, Cobden, Il
  • Art Lovers Trading Company, Carbondale, Il.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

3 seniors win Rickert-Ziebold exhibition

Daily Egyptian: 3 seniors win Rickert-Ziebold exhibition: "This year, there were three winners: Anthony Cotta, a senior from Peoria studying drawing; Rebecca Frolker, a senior from Belleville studying visual communication; and Jung-Am Park, a senior from Seoul, Korea, studying studio art."

Saturday, April 02, 2005


Jan VonBokel -- Patio Artist extraordinaire!
posted by some guy

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Exhibit to feature Joel Feldman's works

Exhibit to feature Joel Feldman's works: By Paula Davenport, "Elaborately detailed, large woodcuts, sculpture and photographs by artist Joel Feldman will take center stage in a new University Museum exhibit at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

'Multiple Points of View' includes pieces representing Feldman's creative diversity. Admission is free.

Feldman will talk about his work and his distinguished career at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, and greet museumgoers at a 7-9 p.m. reception."

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Rickert-Ziebold finalists announced

Rickert-Ziebold finalists announced: "Twenty-one collegiate artists will vie for the $20,000 purse in the 2005 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award competition, open only to selected seniors in the Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Art and Design.

Perhaps the most profitable contest of its kind, its purse may go to a single winner or be split among several artists. Art school faculty annually select the winners, with the announcement set for 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 4, in the Surplus Gallery at the Glove Factory, a collection of studios and galleries kept by the University (408 S. Washington St.), at the corner of Washington and College streets.

The public may see the works at free open houses from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3; 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 4; 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5; and 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 6."

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Patio Painter on First Friday in April

Jan Von Bokel’s paintings have been displayed in both solo and group exhibits through out the Midwest. Tarble Art Center on the campus of Eastern Illinois, University, The Swope Art Museum and Lakeland College Library Gallery to name a few. Several private and corporate collections contain her work in and around the State of Illinois.

Ms Von Bokel is the recipient of numerous awards and honorariums. While she is primarily self taught, she has attended the Evanston School of Art, Parkland Junior College, Lakeland Junior College and workshops through out the United States.

She is currently the co owner and Director of Von Gar Studios in Effingham, IL where she teaches art, conducts workshops and operates a working gallery. Her work incorporates several media and her pieces range from portraits and murals to pieces of contemporary expression. Ms Von Bokel’s style is unique and refreshing.

Some of her works may be viewed at www.TheLoadedBrush.com and her line of original art for outdoor pool and patio may be experienced at www.PatioPaintings.com. To contact by telephone call (217) 342-7455 or by e-mail at silk@xelnet.com.

Saturday, March 05, 2005