For most of the year, 91制片厂鈥檚 Art Exhibition Space displays exhibitions by
artists who come to lecture and mentor 91制片厂 students as part of the visiting artist
program. But, for a few weeks every spring, the students get to take over the gallery
during the Student Juried Art Exhibition.
This free exhibition, which is open to the public, will display award-winning works by 91制片厂鈥檚 student body through May 9 in Building C, Room C200, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
91制片厂 Professor Jason Peot, who has been the gallery鈥檚 director for 15 years, explained how the jury selection process works.
鈥淎bout 10 years ago, we started a program where we bring back one of our visiting artists from the year to jury 鈥� one who鈥檚 already shown in our gallery,鈥� Peot said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice connection for the students. The juror will be somebody that they鈥檝e met. They鈥檝e seen their work professionally and know they鈥檙e legit.鈥�
The juror for this year is cross-disciplinary artist Angela Piehl, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who explores topics in queer ecology, gender, and preconceived notions of nature and beauty. Piehl will choose pieces to be awarded a Best of Show in 3D and a Best of Show in 2D at the exhibition. A Presidential Award will be granted by Dr. Avis Proctor, president of 91制片厂, and several awards will be given out by 91制片厂鈥檚 Art Department faculty.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty highly selective,鈥� Peot explained. 鈥淲e get about 150 submissions and the gallery only holds about 20 to 25 pieces. Only some of the best work will be displayed.鈥�
While receiving an award is prestigious, Peot emphasized that the Student Juried Art Exhibition and the gallery space are key components of a larger educational calling to encourage students to craft their own portfolios and jumpstart their professional art careers.
鈥淎ll of this is to help students build a resume. And to have an exhibition record, as a young artist, is a great resume line for their transfer portfolio,鈥� Peot said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really the point of all this. It鈥檚 not just for decoration. It鈥檚 important to have their work just be seen.鈥�
One of those students is Cat Reddington, 22, who said he was a bit hesitant to submit an original piece to the exhibition. With the insistence of his painting instructors, Perry Pollock and William Blake, he decided to go for it.
鈥淏oth of my professors were like, you gotta do it,鈥� Cat said, 鈥測ou gotta do it, even
if you hate it.鈥�
Cat, from Palatine, graduated from Harper with an Associate of Fine Arts degree. While making plans to apply to a digital art program at Arizona State University, he is taking several art classes at 91制片厂. After painting a self-portrait in bravura style for class, Cat felt ready to make a submission.
鈥淭he assignment was honestly like a dream, because it felt so natural. I think the whole painting took just under nine hours,鈥� Cat said. 鈥淭he piece reflects my tendency to be a little bit weird, but also my love for nature and birds.鈥�
Cat鈥檚 portrait was awarded a spot in the exhibition and is displayed alongside other students鈥� work. This is the first time one of his pieces will be in the public eye.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been a little bit nervous about showing off, so to speak. So, the idea of my art being seen by a bunch of people, it does freak me out a little bit,鈥� Cat said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to be confident in yourself. You don鈥檛 have to be a perfectionist, and every professor I鈥檝e had at 91制片厂 has taught me this. You鈥檒l be able to go further in your art.鈥�
This year鈥檚 exhibition serves as a milestone for Cat and other artists whose work has been included. Yet the importance of the show goes beyond being selected. Peot shared a favorite story of two students who met artist Katie Bell at 91制片厂鈥檚 gallery and ended up helping her install a sculpture piece for an entire week.
鈥淭hree years later the students went on to transfer and were working at a university art museum as receptionists,鈥� Peot recalled. 鈥淎nd when the director went through a list of names, and mentioned there would be a special visiting artist that year, Katie Bell, everyone was super shocked when the two undergrads raised their hands and said, 鈥極h! We know her!鈥欌��