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 Once again, the members of Logan County Arts bring a diverse
interpretation of their current subject to the gallery. Paintings
and photographs lined the walls of the beautiful gallery while
sculptures stood on pedestals across the floor. A large crowd came
to enjoy the art and talk to the artists who created it.
Cheryl Spove created a sculpture that harkened back to her childhood
visits to the wonder of the circus. “FUN to me is doing something I
am passionate about,” she said.
Pam Moriearty has an entirely different take on FUN. “I really don’t
see FUN as slapstick, but as a component of looking at something
serious. It can take the sting out of a serious event,” she said.
Her collage of trains “I Think I Can” made for her grandkids
included a serious subject that she wanted them to understand, that
striving for something they want can be an enjoyable endeavor. She
tricked everyone with her “Peep Show” that channels the naughty
exhibits at old time carnivals. Lift the cover and peer into the box
and what do you see? Well, no spoiler here. You will just have to
visit the gallery and find out for yourself.
 Mitch Douglas has his own way of expressing FUN, but it may not be
readily apparent in his work. “FUN is not always reflected in the
picture. It may be a subtext known only by the artist. That is why I
like to discuss my art with gallery visitors,” he said. He seems to
be implying that in some of his art, he may be part of the piece.
Artist Tony Shuff goes in a different direction entirely with his
interpretation of this month’s theme. “FUN to me should be bright,
cheerful, and bold. It should show joy. That’s why my art for this
show is so colorful,” he said.
Gallery owner and artist Moses Pinkerton said that FUN “is
expressing myself without words, and allowing the viewer to
interpret what I am really trying to say.”
Jason Hoffman brought some of his beautiful turned wood bowls to the
show. The multi-hued pieces with their diverse wood types reflected
the light that shined on them, but his explanation of FUN for his
work was surprising. “The process of making the turned wood bowls
was fun for me because it actually stripped away the art.
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"They are really a focus on the craft, and the process of creating them was fun.
There really was no personal experience involved in them as there might be in a
painting or sculpture, just a spare, straight line between the image in my mind,
to my hands, and into the wood,” he said.
One of the fun parts of visiting the Lincoln Art Institute for a show is the
chance to talk to the artists about what they are doing, maybe get a glimpse
into the creative process they use. “I just start out with scribbles when I am
working on a new piece, and they eventually turn into the art I want to
express,” said Kerry Rolewicz. She hung a large blank canvas for the show and
provided pencils for everyone to scribble on it and maybe create their own art.
FUN runs until June 27. The Lincoln Art Institute will be open all weekend
during the downtown Pigs and Swigs Festival. After this weekend, contact Moses
Pinkerton at (217) 651-8355 to schedule a gallery tour.
The next art exhibition at the Lincoln Art Institute will open on July 9. This
will be a special event entitled “The Douglas Family Show.” All of the art will
be creations of the multi-talented Douglas family.
[Curt Fox]
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