The LLCC Arts and Humanities Department invites the public to a free film and discussion series entitled, “Tuesday Nights at the Movies.” The next film showing will be of “Silence” this evening at 6 p.m. in Menard Hall, Room 2209.

Feb. 12: “Silence” (2016) – Martin Scorsese directed this film that is set in 17th century Japan when the shogunate has outlawed Christianity, making any public demonstration of Christian belief a crime punishable by death. Two Portuguese Jesuits, upon hearing that their mentor and friend has been captured and has been forced to renounce his faith, decide to go to Japan to try to find their friend. This is the story of their difficult journey, atrocities they witness and the disturbing news regarding the plight of Christians, all of which ultimately test the strength of their beliefs and faith.

The final film in the series will be “Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids” (2004) on March 19. Read more about these films.

The films will be hosted by Dr. Deborah Brothers, John Paul Jaramillo and Cara Swafford, professors of English; Joseph Hoff, professor of Spanish; and  LLCC students.

Lisa Lofgren’s print exhibit “what is was” opens in the James S. Murray Gallery today and runs through March 7. The public is invited to view the exhibit weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and attend a reception on Tuesday, March 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Lofgren’s work is informed by her role as a mother of a two-year-old and how it has affected her studio practice. She describes it as once deeply contemplative, but now fractured by the unstructured play required in raising a young child.

“The solution I have found to this conflict is the ability to work back into works started six, eight, 10 years ago and find resolution in entirely different ways than I would have discovered then,” explains Lofgren. “I am in conversation with a collection of old friends, unified by my present voice and embracing intuitive play.”

Lofgren is a printmaker, educator and founder of the community printmaking and papermaking facility Together Press in coordination with cometogetherstudios in Bloomington. She is the registrar and office coordinator for University Galleries of Illinois State University and an adjunct instructor at Heartland Community College. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree from Illinois State University.

The LLCC Arts and Humanities Department invites the public to a free film and discussion series entitled, “Tuesday Nights at the Movies.” The next film showing will be of “Silence” on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. in Menard Hall, Room 2209.

Feb. 12: “Silence” (2016) – Martin Scorsese directed this film that is set in 17th century Japan when the shogunate has outlawed Christianity, making any public demonstration of Christian belief a crime punishable by death. Two Portuguese Jesuits, upon hearing that their mentor and friend has been captured and has been forced to renounce his faith, decide to go to Japan to try to find their friend. This is the story of their difficult journey, atrocities they witness and the disturbing news regarding the plight of Christians, all of which ultimately test the strength of their beliefs and faith.

The final film in the series will be “Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids” (2004) on March 19. Read more about these films.

The films will be hosted by Dr. Deborah Brothers, John Paul Jaramillo and Cara Swafford, professors of English; Joseph Hoff, professor of Spanish; and  LLCC students.

LLCC’s James S. Murray Gallery is featuring the Chinese brush painting exhibit “Tranquility of Nature” by Su Ge through Jan. 31. The public is invited to view the exhibit weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ge’s work reflects the union of inscription/poem, calligraphy, painting and seal. She practiced Chinese calligraphy from a young age and learned the art of carving stone seals from her father.

“Movement of the brush — quickly or slowly, lightly or heavily — along with the use of five colors of ink create the beauty and charm of Chinese brush paintings,” explains Ge. “Due to the nature of the absorbance of Xuan paper, mistakes cannot be corrected once the brush touches the paper.” Read more about the artist.

LLCC’s James S. Murray Gallery is featuring the Chinese brush painting exhibit “Tranquility of Nature” by Su Ge through Jan. 31. The public is invited to view the exhibit weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ge’s work reflects the union of inscription/poem, calligraphy, painting and seal. She practiced Chinese calligraphy from a young age and learned the art of carving stone seals from her father.

“Movement of the brush — quickly or slowly, lightly or heavily — along with the use of five colors of ink create the beauty and charm of Chinese brush paintings,” explains Ge. “Due to the nature of the absorbance of Xuan paper, mistakes cannot be corrected once the brush touches the paper.” Read more about the artist.

LLCC’s James S. Murray Gallery will feature the Chinese brush painting exhibit “Tranquility of Nature” by Su Ge Jan. 14-31. The public is invited to view the exhibit weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ge’s work reflects the union of inscription/poem, calligraphy, painting and seal. She practiced Chinese calligraphy from a young age and learned the art of carving stone seals from her father.

“Chinese brush painting uses Xuan/Mulberry paper, Chinese ink, stone well and writing brush to capture the inner essence from the bamboo to mountain,” explains Ge. “Movement of the brush — quickly or slowly, lightly or heavily — along with the use of five colors of ink create the beauty and charm of Chinese brush paintings. Due to the nature of the absorbance of Xuan paper, mistakes cannot be corrected once the brush touches the paper.”

Ge studied art at the Art School of Shanghai Arts and Crafts Import and Export Corporation in the late 1970s. After coming to the United States in 1980, she worked as an IT professional for more than 20 years in Bloomington. Ge specializes in traditional Chinese brush painting with an emphasis on landscapes and nature, and has had her paintings exhibited on multiple occasions at the McLean County Art Center in Bloomington. She also participated in the 2018 Fusion Art International Art Competition in which two of her submissions were recognized and was the only female participant in the “Life of Arts” exhibition in Shanghai, China in May 2018.

“Pristine Piano,” a performance by Jane Hartman, professor of music, and LLCC students will take place today, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. in Menard Hall, Room 2250.

“Pristine Piano,” a performance by Jane Hartman, professor of music, and LLCC students will take place tomorrow, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. in Menard Hall, Room 2250.

The LLCC Choir will perform with combined church choirs and be accompanied by full orchestra at the Christmas Cantata on Sunday, Dec. 9, 9 and 10:30 a.m. services at First United Methodist Church, 2941 S. Koke Mill Road, Springfield.

The final LLCC Music event of the season will be “Pristine Piano,” a performance by Jane Hartman, LLCC professor of music, and LLCC students. It will take place on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in Menard Hall, Room 2250.