LLCC’s “All Lit Up” Arts and Humanities Festival begins today with a monologue/storytelling workshop from 3-5 p.m. in Menard Hall, Room 1168. Professors Mark Hardiman and Deborah Brothers are facilitators.

With the theme of “Arts bringing light into the darkness,” the festival will feature a number of events from Sept. 24-28 in conjunction with Banned Books Week, a national observance celebrating the freedom to read. All events are free and open to the public. LLCC students, staff, faculty and administrators are invited and encouraged to participate or attend.

Tuesday, Sept. 25

Film showing and discussion of “Cinema Paradiso,” with music by Jane Hartman
5 p.m., Menard Hall, Room 2250
Professors Joe Hoff and Deborah Brothers, facilitators

Wednesday, Sept. 26

18th Annual Banned Books Reading, “Well, I’ll Be Banned!”
11 a.m.-noon, A. Lincoln Commons
Professor Deborah Brothers, facilitator, with volunteer readers

Thursday, Sept. 27

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to document their day through art, writing and photography, showcasing the images of LLCC, the people of LLCC, the creations of student artists and written reflections. Submit work to Tim McKenzie at timothy.mckenzie@llcc.edu (786-4656) or to www.facebook.com/DayAtLLCC. More information will be announced on the Facebook page.

Friday, Sept. 28

Open Mic, 11 a.m.-noon, James S. Murray Gallery, Menard Hall upper level
Professor David Leitner, facilitator, with volunteer readers

For more information regarding any festival event, email Deborah.Brothers@llcc.edu or call 786-4966.

LLCC’s “All Lit Up” Arts and Humanities Festival begins next week! With the theme of “Arts bringing light into the darkness,” the festival will feature a number of events from Sept. 24-28 in conjunction with Banned Books Week, a national observance celebrating the freedom to read. All events are free and open to the public. LLCC students, staff, faculty and administrators are invited and encouraged to participate or attend.

Monday, Sept. 24

Monologue/Storytelling workshop, 3-5 p.m., MN 1168
Professors Mark Hardiman and Deborah Brothers, facilitators

Tuesday, Sept. 25

Film showing and discussion of Cinema Paradiso, with music by Jane Hartman
5 p.m., MN 2250
Professors Joe Hoff and Deborah Brothers, facilitators

Wednesday, Sept. 26

18th Annual Banned Books Reading, “Well, I’ll Be Banned!”
11 a.m.-noon, A. Lincoln Commons
Professor Deborah Brothers, facilitator, with volunteer readers

Thursday, Sept. 27

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to document their day through art, writing and photography, showcasing the images of LLCC, the people of LLCC, the creations of student artists and written reflections. Submit work to timothy.mckenzie@llcc.edu (786-4656) or to www.facebook.com/DayAtLLCC. More information will be announced on the Facebook page.

Friday, Sept. 28

Open Mic, 11 a.m.-noon, James S. Murray Gallery, Menard Hall upper level
Professor David Leitner, facilitator, with volunteer readers

For more information regarding any festival event, email Deborah.Brothers@llcc.edu or call 786-4966.

There is still time to view the ceramic exhibit “Decompose” by Greenville artist Kyle Anderson in the James S. Murray Gallery. The exhibit can be viewed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 13.

The impetus behind the body of sculptural ceramic work shown in Anderson’s “Decompose” is his brother’s diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. “His body is literally withering away, and he can do nothing to stop it. Wrinkles on faces tell stories, and I am broken because my brother doesn’t have a chance to develop those stories and wrinkles,” explains Anderson. “We should be in constant celebration for having the ability to draw breath.”

The public is invited to attend a reception with the artist of the ceramic exhibit “Decompose” today from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the James S. Murray Gallery. The artist is Kyle Anderson from Greenville, and the exhibit is available for viewing weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 13.

The impetus behind the body of sculptural ceramic work shown in Anderson’s “Decompose” is his brother’s diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. “His body is literally withering away, and he can do nothing to stop it. Wrinkles on faces tell stories, and I am broken because my brother doesn’t have a chance to develop those stories and wrinkles,” explains Anderson. “I overexaggerate lines and folds in my work to emphasize this concept.”

“My goal for this body of work is to not only attempt to mend my own mental health, but provide solace for whoever is struggling in life by affirming they have a gift that they shouldn’t take for granted,” Anderson adds. “We should be in constant celebration for having the ability to draw breath.”

The James S. Murray Gallery is featuring the ceramic exhibit “Decompose” by Greenville artist Kyle Anderson through Sept. 13. The public is invited to view the exhibit weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and attend a reception with the artist on Aug. 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The impetus behind the body of sculptural ceramic work shown in Anderson’s “Decompose” is his brother’s diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. “His body is literally withering away, and he can do nothing to stop it. Wrinkles on faces tell stories, and I am broken because my brother doesn’t have a chance to develop those stories and wrinkles,” explains Anderson. “I overexaggerate lines and folds in my work to emphasize this concept.”

“My goal for this body of work is to not only attempt to mend my own mental health, but provide solace for whoever is struggling in life by affirming they have a gift that they shouldn’t take for granted,” Anderson adds. “We should be in constant celebration for having the ability to draw breath.”

The James S. Murray Gallery is featuring the ceramic exhibit “Decompose” by Greenville artist Kyle Anderson Aug. 20-Sept. 13. The public is invited to view the exhibit weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and attend a reception with the artist on Aug. 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The impetus behind the body of sculptural ceramic work shown in Anderson’s “Decompose” is his brother’s diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. “His body is literally withering away, and he can do nothing to stop it. Wrinkles on faces tell stories, and I am broken because my brother doesn’t have a chance to develop those stories and wrinkles,” explains Anderson. “I overexaggerate lines and folds in my work to emphasize this concept.”

“My goal for this body of work is to not only attempt to mend my own mental health, but provide solace for whoever is struggling in life by affirming they have a gift that they shouldn’t take for granted,” Anderson adds. “We should be in constant celebration for having the ability to draw breath.”

The James S. Murray Gallery is featuring the exhibit “In This Place” by local artist Will Redwood through July 26. The public is invited to attend a reception with the artist today, July 18, from noon to 1 p.m.

Through painting, “In This Place” captures the mood of personally meaningful places of being. “We each inhabit our own inner world of contemplation. In this place … we each take part in shaping what will be. We each have our own places of being,” explains Redwood. “These places are the subject of these paintings.”

The symbolism in his paintings conveys paradoxes experienced in life — loss and gain, joy and pain, growth and decay. “When I finish, the painting remains like a passage to that place of being,” says Redwood. “As we are each on a journey of our own, we are all together, and our experiences are often similar.”

The exhibit is open for viewing Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Redwood is a painter and vector illustrator as well as the author of two independent storybooks. For six years, he also taught art for the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield. Redwood earned a degree in drawing and graphic design from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2003. Since then, he has continued to make and show art at various galleries, events and retail spaces.

The James S. Murray Gallery is featuring the exhibit “In This Place” by local artist Will Redwood through July 26. The public is invited to view the exhibit Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and attend a reception with the artist on July 18 from noon to 1 p.m.

Through painting, “In This Place” captures the mood of personally meaningful places of being. “We each inhabit our own inner world of contemplation. In this place … we each take part in shaping what will be. We each have our own places of being,” explains Redwood. “These places are the subject of these paintings.”

The symbolism in his paintings conveys paradoxes experienced in life — loss and gain, joy and pain, growth and decay. “When I finish, the painting remains like a passage to that place of being,” says Redwood. “As we are each on a journey of our own, we are all together, and our experiences are often similar.”

Redwood is a painter and vector illustrator as well as the author of two independent storybooks. For six years, he also taught art for the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield. Redwood earned a degree in drawing and graphic design from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2003. Since then, he has continued to make and show art at various galleries, events and retail spaces.