Woodstock exhibit to feature work of MCC painting students
McHenry County College will host a student painting exhibition titled "Flares" at the Woodstock Courthouse Satellite Gallery, 101 N. Johnson St., in Woodstock from Jan. 26 through March 3.
An opening reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26.
"Flares" features six of longtime MCC instructor Mark Arctander's advanced painting students. The artists include Skylar Buetow and Michelle Clesceri of Crystal Lake, Cristina Lichay of Huntley, Kayti Sault of Woodstock, Michelle Mathis of McHenry, and Kathleen Jagman of Woodstock.
The instructor
Arctander said the students' work provides "a beautiful sampling of some of the best advanced painting students" currently studying in MCC's Art Department.
"I'm really fortunate to have so many students return to take my classes year after year. Some have been refining their skills with me for 10 years or more. "It's one of the rewards of teaching at the community college level, in addition to helping traditional students put together their portfolios for their baccalaureate experiences at the four-year college level," Arctander said.
The artists
Michelle Mathis of McHenry has been taking art classes at MCC since the late 1980s, but has been enrolled in painting classes steadily for the past four years.
"There's a freeness to painting," Mathis said. "It provides me a relaxing form of expression."
"Mark Arctander has opened me up to observing the art world more clearly than I've ever seen it before," Mathis said. "I feel like I've gained more knowledge by observing other forms of art and through critiquing."
She will be displaying paintings representing nostalgic products. Mathis finds herself drawn to painting rusted items such as trains and worn machinery. Her paintings in the exhibit feature nostalgic products, including a jar of Jif peanut butter and a can of Crazy Foam. "It stems from why I like painting rusty objects - because it's age-related. Somehow I find it intriguing."
Kathie Jagman of Woodstock said she is excited her work was selected for the Satellite Gallery.
"It's very exciting. It affirms that I am an artist."
She is in her fourth year of painting.
"I enjoy the interaction of the students and the teacher," she said.
"There are traditional and nontraditional students, ranging in age from 18 through 70s," Jagman said. "The interaction and creativity of all the students is very inspiring."
Jagman said painting challenges her to go outside of her comfort zone. "It makes me look at the world differently."
Jagman said her subjects change from semester to semester. For example, she went from painting macro flowers to abstract bubbles to portraits of rock stars this past year.
"I don't try to limit myself," she said.
She will be displaying paintings representing bubbles, including one titled "Double, Double, toil and Bubble."
"It started out as fish scales and it just evolved," Jagman said. "I start out with an idea, but never know what the final result will be. It's an exciting journey that each student begins, with the first stroke of the brush."
The gallery
This is the fourth show at Satellite Gallery, which opened in September in partnership with the Northwest Area Arts Council. Arctander thought of the idea to open a student gallery in the community as a way to showcase exceptional MCC student painting, ceramics, photography and sculpture to the public.
The reception is free and open to the public. Satellite Gallery is inside the Old Courthouse Arts Center, 101 N. Johnson St. in Woodstock. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday; closed Monday through Wednesday. For more information, contact Mark Arctander at (815) 479-7623 or send him an email at marctander@mchenry.edu.