Logan County Arts hosts "Profiles and Portraits" evening reception February 9th

[February 03, 2017]   LINCOLN - For their first art exhibit of the 2017 season, Logan County Arts members will be sharing their favorite “Profiles and Portraits.” The show will debut with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9 at the Lincoln Art Institute, 112 S. McLean St, Lincoln, next to the US Post Office. In addition to viewing the artworks and enjoying refreshments and music, visitors will be able to discuss the works with the artists themselves.

Artists participating in the show include Rob Swofford, Cheryl Spove, Tony Shuff, Nancy Saul, Moses Pinkerton, Bev Noble, Pam Moriearty, Kira Jackson, Jason Hoffman, Jen Grimaldi and Suzanne Faulkner, as well as guest artists. The participants each took inspiration in a unique direction, so the works include painting, photography, pastel, printmaking, collage, three-dimensional and mixed media pieces. The subjects range from family and friends to famous and historic figures, and each artist was tasked with including a self-portrait.

Portrait-making is as old as art itself. Depictions in paint and statuary are the way we have always remembered those from past times and have visualized heroes and religious figures. After the invention of photography, the art of the portrait changed, since a simple snapshot can easily preserve a realistic image of a person. Artists now take a deeper look at their subjects. Today a portrait is not necessarily just a rendering of a person’s face, but can attempt to capture the personality or essence of the subject. As artists choose their medium and their reaction to their subject, they are telling stories about themselves as well as about the person being portrayed.

After opening night, the show will be available for viewing until March 4 by chance or appointment. Visitors may ring the doorbell, and if curator Moses Pinkerton is available he will open the gallery. For an appointment, people may call Pinkerton at 217-651-8355.

Also available at the “Profiles and Portraits” opening will be information on the upcoming March, 2017 exhibit, “Two Artists, Two Journeys.” For that show, Logan County Arts will showcase two local young artists, looking at the influences and inspirations that are shaping their artistic journeys.

[Pamela Moriearty]