The art exhibit “elemental,” featuring mixed media paintings by Laura Anderson, LLCC assistant professor of art, opens today in LLCC’s James S. Murray Gallery. The public is invited to view the exhibit weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 12 and attend a reception on Thursday, Aug. 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Anderson’s work is inspired by the natural world, including its complexities, commonalities, mysteries and working processes. “We are part of nature, yet we’re set apart from it in many ways,” she explains. “My work explores the intersection of this duality, often via drawn or painted natural imagery combined with collaged artifacts and urban landscapes that reflect the man-made world.
“Working with collage, décollage, encaustic, charcoal, graphite and acrylic allows me to explore the history of process in my work via layering of structured collage elements with irregular lines, gestural brushstrokes and fluid forms that evoke the universal visual language that is evident everywhere in nature.”
Dr. Charlotte Warren, president, was invited yesterday by Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to view the large wall mural recently installed in the Sheriff’s office suite. It depicts an 1800s-era map of Sangamon County. A smaller version, with hand drawings of several historic sites in Sangamon County and a list of all past sheriffs, is mounted in his office. The project was designed and produced by Thom Whalen, professor of art, and his student, Jessica Le. Sheriff Campbell, who is an LLCC alum, had the idea for the wall map, and expressed his thanks to Dr. Warren for letting him work with LLCC to make it a reality.
Professor Whalen, who also created the logo for the upcoming 200th anniversary of the Sheriff’s Office, commented, “Jessica is a first-generation college student who came to us with so much talent. She had this great experience at LLCC and is now going into interior design and art history at ISU. It was a perfect opportunity for her.” He noted that Ryan Roberts, interim dean of English and humanities, assisted by locating the map.
