“Cat Couple” by Sultan Rogers (carved & painted wood)
 

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts will be presenting several simultaneous exhibitions featuring artwork by contemporary folk, intuitive and visionary artists from December 15 through February 16, 2008. The Opening Reception will be Sunday, December 16 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.

The outsider artist has historically been viewed as someone both untrained and often disconnected with reality. “Contemporary American Folk Art: The Arient Family Collection”, curated by David Sokol, will “examine a number of contemporary American artists and asks us to sort out the meaning and relevance of the terms: folk, self-taught, outsider, naive.” The Arient’s have been collectors since the mid-seventies, during which time they saw America and befriended dozens of artist along the way. The personal relationships they developed were so strong that one artist used the image of the Arient’s son in several works of art. Learn more about the collection during a gallery talk and tour with the Arient’s on January 13 at 12:30 pm. This exhibit is sponsored in part by Harris, NA and Konrady Plastics, Inc.

“Works on Paper and Parchment by Rabbi Douglas Goldhamer” will also be on display between December 15 and February 16. Goldhamer, a Rabbi with a 30 year history in the Chicago area, began painting in 1989. His works, often painted on goatskin parchment, focus heavily on biblical, apocalyptic and kabalistic themes and have been exhibited ad the Judy Saslow & Aron Packer Galleries in Chicago as well as the National Jewish Museum of Washington DC. His book, “This is for Everyone: Universal Principles of Healing and the Jewish Mystics” is available for purchase in the Lubeznik Center’s Gallery shop for $14.95. Goldhamer will present a gallery talk on January 13 at 2:00 pm following the Arient’s tour/talk.

Also during this time, in the West Lobby, “Indiana Visionaries” will feature works from Artistic Spirit Gallery in Indianapolis. Artists Jerome Neal, Kevin Green, John Wade and Rae will be represented with all works available for purchase. Please visit the Lubeznik Center’s Gallery Shop online
( www.lubeznikcenter.org and click on the Gifts & Shopping tab) for a special preview.