“A Blue Collar Romantic” by Stanley Bly is the current exhibit in the Murray Gallery through Nov. 5. The gallery, on the second floor of Menard Hall, is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

A reception for the artist will be held at the gallery this evening, Oct. 15, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.

Stanley Bly is an American, Midwestern artist, who generally depicts subjects who reference mythology, art history and blue collared sweat. He tends to place them in a surreal limbo, next to flat spaces, and chalkboard images. The chaotic nature of the chalkboard, next to the traditionally painted imagery, creates a scene that is both academic, and asymmetrically destructive. The romantic compositions present the work as a theatrical narrative, and challenges the viewer to find more than what is immediate.

Mr. Bly is a graduate of the University of Illinois-Springfield. He was recently featured in the traveling “Pro-Text” show arranged by the Illinois State Museum where he spoke on the use of text within his artwork. More information on the artist is available at www.stanleybly.com.

Help the LLCC Writing Center celebrate the National Day on Writing the week of Oct. 20 by sharing “Why I Write” on our display in the Writing Center or by commenting on our Facebook page. All participants are eligible to pick up a goody bag from Writing Center staff. Read more information: National Day on Writing 2015_2

Two of Jane Hartman‘s piano students here at LLCC were honored this weekend at the 39th annual Jessie Mae Finley Musical Scholarship Concert. Kristen Heckel and Abigail Shaver were the recipients of monetary awards. The concert is held each year as part of the Voices of Love, Joy & Peace Foundation which assists students by providing scholarships and encouragement. The primary goal of this organization is “To spread love, joy and peace to the world through the power of song.”

The Arts and Humanities department is hosting the second presentation of its East Asia Film and Lecture Series Thursday, Oct. 8. The presentation, “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter … and Spring,” runs from 6-9 p.m. in the Trutter Center. The public is invited at no charge.

“Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter … and Spring” (2003), directed by Ki-duk Kim, is about a young Buddhist apprentice who is mentored by an aging monk (Yeong-su Oh) at a secluded monastery in the Korean wilderness. As a teenager, the apprentice (Jae-kyeong Seo) encounters a girl who arrives at the monastery seeking assistance with her health. Over the course of a few days, the boy is tempted away from his spiritual existence into a sexual relationship. He leaves the monastery to follow the girl into a modern way of life he has never known and is unprepared for.

Discussion of the film is being led by Alex Jong-Seok Lee, a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His dissertation focuses on the relationship between South Korean globalization and notions of “service” among South Korean aspiring, current and former flight attendants. Originally from Los Angeles, Mr. Lee received his Bachelor of Arts in ethnic studies at the University of California at San Diego. An avid Champaign “Ebertfest” attendee, Mr. Lee enjoys a wide range of films, both local and global.

The 14th annual Banned Books Readings is being held TODAY from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons.

LLCC students, faculty and staff will read from various books that were banned at some time. The event is held in observance of Banned Books Week, held nationally to celebrate the freedom to read and free and open access to information.

The Arts and Humanities department continues the East Asia Film and Lecture Series Thursday, Oct. 8 from 6-9 p.m. in the Trutter Center, in partnership with the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies at UIUC. The film will be “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter … and Spring” (2003), directed by Ki-duk Kim. Discussion will be led by Alex Jong-Seok Lee, Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at UIUC. Admission is free.

The LLCC 14th annual Banned Books Readings will be held Friday, Oct. 2, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons on the LLCC-Springfield campus.

LLCC students, faculty and staff will read from various books that were banned at some time. The public is invited to attend.

The event is held in observance of Banned Books Week, held nationally to celebrate the freedom to read and free and open access to information.

More information is available from organizer Dr. Deborah Brothers, LLCC professor of English, at 786.4966.

LLCC Theatre will present “Your Swash Is Unbuckled” by Jeff Goode, a collection of short, humorous plays featuring swashbuckling, sword-swinging action, on Nov. 11, 12 and 13. Curtain time is 8 p.m. in the Hoogland Center for the Arts Theatre III.

Three of the plays are world-premieres, authored by Goode just for LLCC Theatre under the direction of Mark Hardiman, LLCC professor of theatre.  Read more here.

The LLCC 3-D Design class would like your cardboard. If you are getting any furniture (standing desks, chairs, etc.) or anything else that comes in packaging that involves large, flat and clean sheets of cardboard, please consider putting it aside and emailing leslie.stalter@llcc.edu, who will come pick it up from you. Main campus pickup only. Thank you!