‘Artful Disarray’ theme embraces diversity in newest at LAI Show

[August 20, 2018]   LINCOLN - The Lincoln Art Institute gallery opening on Thursday evening was a riot of subjects, styles, and media that seemed most appropriate for a show entitled Artful Disarray.

The gallery walls were filled with work from the artists of Logan County Arts that included landscapes and abstract paintings along with ceramics and photography. Everywhere a person looked provided a different art experience.

The opening was a showcase for two new artists experiencing their first exhibition at the Lincoln Art Institute. Atlanta resident Larry Collins and Jan Villarreal of Lincoln both appreciated the free form event where anything goes thematically.

“I think artists are free flowing naturally, so this show was ideal for me,” said Jan. Villarreal described her best paintings being created when she is “in the zone” as she put it. “It mostly happens at 3 a.m. when an idea comes to me and I have to put it on canvas,” she said with a laugh.

“This show was a license to ‘art’ where there is no theme and everyone does their own thing,” said Pam Moriearty. Many times Pam takes her experience as a master naturalist and creates a painting around it.

Alice Ferguson creates ceramics using a technique called Raku. It involves unique clay and firing in a special kiln at 1888 degrees. Yes, the temperature of the firing needs to be exact to get a successful finished product. Her colorful animal sculptures have glazes that have to be heated to the same temperature as the clay to fuse them together.

A large crowd gathered at the opening for Artful Disarray. There was art all around in the gallery, but one of the best displays were the knots of people gazing at the work and discussing it, many times with total strangers. Art brought people together for a quiet and calm evening in the beautiful space of the Lincoln Art Institute.

After the opening, Moses Pinkerton shared that a bid for several pieces in the show came from an art collector in San Diego. A cell phone was used to transmit photos of the art in the exhibition. Works by Larry Collins, Jan Villarreal, and Jason Hoffman were of particular interest to the collector.

Logan County Arts and the Lincoln Art Institute have developed a reputation for showcasing quality art that extends beyond central Illinois.

Artful Disarray will be on display for the remainder of August at the Lincoln Art Institute. Contact gallery owner and curator Moses Pinkerton at 217-651-8355 to arrange a viewing. Sometimes Moses is in the gallery and a pop-up visit is possible without calling ahead. Walking around downtown Lincoln enjoying its restaurants and shops, and ending up in the art gallery is a pleasant surprise.

[Curtis Fox]