Zygman Voss Gallery often showcases 17^th-20^th century masters, but the gallery’s latest exhibition features work by Chicago-based an artist, Elsa Muñoz, who stands her ground compared to the famous Dutch and Romantic realist painters who came before her. Muñoz, born in 1983, received her BFA from the Academy of Art in Chicago in 2006. Zygman Voss is excited to show her work because her talent and technique have been considered on par with old masters, while her subject matter presents a modern touch to each work.

Muñoz’s technique is detailed, while her subject matter is a twist on the Romantic’s idealization of beauty in nature. Three different series jumped out to me as I wandered around the gallery: Nightshore, Controlled Burn and Nightforest. I had the chance to talk to Ahron Zygman about the latest exhibition, and he told me a little about the meaning behind these three. Ahron explained to me that each had to do with the idea of fear in nature. Muñoz, who is afraid of the ocean, painted the Nightshore series as a way to combat her fear while portraying the unease that lies at the ocean shore. By portraying the shore at night with an ominous red tint to the sky, she draws the unknown out of the ocean. The work is beautiful while causing a sense of awe about the unknown.

Ahron informed me that Muñoz once watched a controlled forest fire, in which people burned part of the forest that was not producing much life in order to restart new growth. While there Muñoz experienced an element that many people understandably fear; even as the fire was controlled she could still recognize the great power of the flames. Muñoz captures this sense of awe mixed with fright in Controlled Burn.

Muñoz returned to the site after the fire had diminished and found the ash filled forest now with little patches of green sticking out in various places. In the pieces entitled Nightforest she brings a beautiful closure to the flames. This dangerous occurrence of a fire raging through a forest is no longer such a terrifying experience when the flames are controlled and one is able to see the good that is produced.

On view through June 1

Zygman Voss Gallery, 222 W. Superior, Chicago, IL 60654

www.zygmanvossgallery.com

Nightshore

Controlled Burn

Nightforest

Coming up at the Chicago Art Source Gallery in Lincoln Park is an exhibition titled Chicago Six, opening Thursday, April 4 and featuring diverse works from the following Chicago artists: Mark Phillips, Eric Holubow, Sheila Ganch, Lynn Basa, Kristin Komar and Michelle Gordon. The focus of the group show is to allow each artist to represent what they find inspiring, challenging and rewarding about living in Chicago. Though these Chicago-based artists are not all originally from Chicago, they have all made the city their home.

The six artists I will be discussing cover a wide range of mediums such as printmaking, photography, sculpture and painting, while still representing the theme of Chicago life found in the buildings, the people and the busy streets in each work.

Mark Phillips works with metal, printmaking and paint to represent the gritty El stations, the graffiti-clad walls and the busy streets that have become visual embodiments of his urban life in Chicago.

Eric Holubow photographs abandoned churches, theatres and warehouses in an effort to capture the beauty in these dilapidated structures, revealing a different side of Chicago architecture.

Sheila Ganch shapes abstract sculptures portraying the people that grab her attention in the city, such as the form of a couple bent over a table in thought, maybe waiting for their food at a local restaurant or playing a game of chess in the park. By creating different bodies in varied positions, Chicago becomes their common denominator. 

The three painters in the exhibition see the city in more abstract, color-filled ways. 

Lynn Basa creates tableaus of color springing forth from city lights and buildings.

Kristin Komar pairs unnatural shapes and colors on a background of dripping paint that represents the man-made buildings placed up against natural parks and lake and river.

Finally, Michelle Gordon piles color upon color to portray the diverse spectrum of people and places that life in Chicago has to offer.

Chicago Six

April 5-June 22

Chicago Art Source Gallery

1871 N. Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614

I recently got the chance to check out the galleries in the John Hancock Center for the first time. The galleries in this building are all noteworthy as well as unique.What really struck a cord with me was the latest addition to the John Hancock Center’s gallery repertoire. Mongerson Galleries has been a Chicago gallery staple since the early 1970s, but has just recently joined the good company of the Hancock Center’s 25^th floor. The gallery specializes in paintings and sculptures of our country’s Westward Expansion along with other related fields such as Sporting, American Impression, Early Moderns and Contemporary.

It was here that a work caught my eye and remained in my thoughts for days after I visited Mongerson Galleries.  The piece was an oil painting by Charles McGee entitled Ring Around the Rosy. McGee, 87, grew up in Detroit and focuses much of his work on the culture and activity found in the streets of his city. In this painting McGee conveys rough and dirty living conditions while still portraying this innate innocence and vulnerability of young girls playing ring around the rosy. It is by no means a whimsical painting yet there is a sense of playful mischief and young imagination while poverty and pain still surround. As I sat and stared at this work, I was quickly captivated by the harsh lines of the painting combined with the soft forms of the young girls. The work draws the viewer into the happiness shared by the girls while still causing a sense of oppression brought on by what surrounds them. 

Gallery owner Tyler Mongerson shows excitement for each work in the gallery and loves to explain the importance, the history and the beauty of each artist and each piece. Stop by to see the new space and talk with Mr. Mongerson to learn more about the gallery’s history and its plans for the future. While visiting make sure you also check out I was able Marc Swanson's work in the Richard Gray Gallery, Francine Turk's pieces in KM Fine Arts and Herbert Ferber's paintings and sculptures in the Valerie Carberry Gallery.

Mongerson Galleries

875 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2520

Chicago, IL 60611

312-943-2354 

Charles McGee

Ring Around the Rosy

Oil on Board

27 x 68 inches

We made it to a few openings on Friday night - this week we'll be visiting more and catching up with those we didn't see on Friday.  

We hope you enjoyed the balmy opening to the winter season.  More exhibitons open all month in every neighborhood - click here for details.

CGN

 David Weinberg

 The newly opened Rangefinder Gallery

 Zg

 Perimeter

 Jean Albano

 Jean Albano

 Hilton | Asmus 

 Zolla/Lieberman

2013 is off and running.  We’re eleven days into the new year, and tonight we’ll celebrate the opening of the winter gallery season along with a few dozen local galleries.  Have you seen the openings list yet?  If not, check it out and make a list of places to go and people (and art) to see.  Exhibition details can be found on our site and in individual gallery listings; here are a few highlights opening tonight…

Our January – April 2013 cover feature gallery, Thomas Masters Gallery presents Melody Saraniti, Drips+Grids.  The gallery is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year; read more about Thomas’ memories and the history of the gallery here.

Melody Saraniti, Drag Oh La, acrylic on panel, 54" x 56"

River North’s Roy Boyd Gallery opens tonight with a refreshing display of paintings by Andrew Graham. 

Andrew Graham, D15, 2012, oil on linen over wood panel, 26” x 46”

The Art Center Highland Park will showcase work by over 150 teachers and members of the Art Center community with In View: Annual Member & Faculty Exhibition.; opening tonight from 6:30-9pm. 

Packer Schopf Gallery has four separate exhibitions opening tonight: Andrea Stanislav’s Wilderness of Mirrors (sculpture, glitter constructions and video);  Bruce Riley’s Psychedelic (mixed media paintings);  Lauren Levato’s Wunderkammer (drawings);  and Deborah Baker’s Zodiac (embroidery).  Pictured below is a drawing from Lauren Levato’s exhibition Wunderkammer.  Levato’s new collection of work delicately combines wonder and the artist’s memory, elaborating on the idea of how the body can become a Wunderkammer (a place where a collection of curiosities and rarities is exhibited).

Drawing by Lauren Levato

Tonight is just the start of a full, fresh season of art to look forward to.  New openings and events are added to our site each week, so be sure to visit us often – and enjoy!