The Merwin & Wakeley Galleries
Illinois Wesleyan University

May 5 - May 27 , 2011

Thursday, May 5
Opening Reception  4-5PM
Gallery Talk by the Artists 4:15PM

THE MERWIN GALLERY

Anamnesis
Naomi R Schliesman & Keith Lemley

Naomi R Schliesman & Keith Lemley write, "As a collaborative team, we are interested in environments and events that shape visual memory and lived experiences.  Anamnesis draws on physical and mental surroundings and their effect on one’s psychological and perhaps, physiological being from multiple perspectives.  Pattern and imagery from the physical environment are pared down to a minimal essence and combined with indecipherable digital renderings; implying the presence of the objects and memories from which they are produced.   Luscious velvet upholstery and juicy saturated ink at once oppose and compliment the other, while melting into the architectural space - pulling it and the viewer into the work.  Visual cues reminiscent of Rorschach inkblots, religious altarpieces, and medical imagery lead toward internal psychological space.  The resulting viewing experience stimulates conversation on memory, aesthetics, place, and ultimately identity and self awareness."

For more information on these artists  please visit:
http://www.naomischliesman.com
http://www.keithlemley.com/

THE WAKELEY GALLERY

Biedermeier Redux
Dennis French

Dennis French received a BFA from Arizona State University in 1977 and an MFA in Jewelry design/Metal-smithing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 1983 he joined the Art faculty at Illinois State University to teach the Jewelry and Metals Design Program. He retired from ISU in 2009.
In the early 1990’s on a trip to Europe, French became enamored of the designers of the Wiener Werkst?tte of the Vienna Secession that propelled his work into the realm of furniture and home accessories (such as lighting). He continued to make jewelry but it became more sculptural and expanded into objects of dual purpose.
In 2003 French was awarded a Sabbatical Leave and spent the spring in Europe researching the Vienna Secession in Vienna, Austria, Charles Rennie Mackintosh in Glasgow, Scotland and the Artist’s Colony at Mathidenh?he in Darmstadt, Germany. While in Austria French became reacquainted with the Biedermeier style and over the course of several years ideas began to take root which would embrace this important historical style.
Dennis has exhibited nationally and internationally and is represented in many private collections.

For more information please visit:
http://www.frenchdesignstudio.com/

Ames School of Art
Illinois Wesleyan University
6 Ames Plaza West
Bloomington, Illinois  61701

Gallery Information:309.556.3822

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.