Summertime Art at the Mansion

>Yesterday the Korean American Artist Alliance opened their exhibit at the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery. As I usually sneak into the Gallery during the week for a quiet emersion, sharing my viewing space with the crowd was a new experience. The music of The Pendleton Trio wafted up the stairs creating a very sophisticated afternoon. Downstairs in the conservatory, where they were playing, it was standing room only.

A couple of dozen artists are selling their pieces this month. Even with so many different styles, consistency flows through the show. The use of strong contrasts and bold lines crosses the canvases. My favorite is Bokim Kim’s Fragrance of N.E.W.S ($900) on the stairs. This wonderful oriental brush painting technique brings white and purple to the black. A couple of the pieces manipulate thick paint, such as Myungsook Kim’s Upward ($2,200), an organic impression of bamboo. Taek Lee’s Bora ($7,000) is a large oil on canvas which caused my eyes to continually dart through the bold stripes, freeing my mind to contemplate my interactions. Wanjin Kim uses antique Korean rice cake stamps to create shadows over the painting of shadows on In The Cloud ($3,000). Don’t miss Barbara Han’s Terra Cotta Sculpture ($1,200) depicting an aging couple in their underwear, smiling and enjoying each other.

After visiting the exhibit, summer is the perfect time to wander the Civic Center Mansion grounds. I love sitting down by the fountain and enjoying the perfect landscaping of this historic property. A stroll through this beautiful jewel never fails to raise my spirits.

If you continue walking around the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, you can also view this summer’s Sculpture on the Grounds Exhibit until October 19, 2008. This year just three sculptures are scattered around. Last Dance by Hanna Jubran (next to the Theatre), Gray, Black & White by David Shivetts (on the main entrance driveway), and Prairie House by John Mors (at the Mansion parking lot entrance) provide additional discovery destinations for a walk. The surroundings influence the sculptures and change your viewpoint when circling the pieces.

If you have a few minutes or want a nice place for a walk, Civic Center Park beckons.

Glenview Mansion Gallery hours are M-W-F 9 AM- 4:30 PM, Tu & Th 9 AM – 9 PM.

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