“Waterways” 

Schingoethe Center Museum of Aurora University

August 27-December 12, 2024

 

One of my watercolors ("Viridis" series, 30"x23", watercolor on paper) is right now on display at the Aurora University in "Waterways", exhibition co-curated by Dr. Natasha Ritsma, director of the Schingoethe Center, and Doug Stapleton, art curator of the Illinois State Museum. With paintings, photographs, sculptures, prints, and installation pieces by more than 40 artists spanning over 150 years, "Waterways" addresses themes of water rights, water safety, pollution, and invasive species, as well as water’s ability to heal, nurture and regenerate.

  Among the many artworks displayed, it also features the iconic masterpiece - Kusama Hokusai’s woodblock print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” (1831.) 

I have to say, it is humbling to have my own work displayed in the same room with Hokusai’s Great Wave. I am sure I speak for all the artists included in this exhibit. 

And as you might suspect, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” is truly magnificent in person; it  holds all the power of restrained elegance, at once intricate and simple.

 “We are thrilled to collaborate with Doug Stapleton and the Illinois State Museum on this dynamic partnership investigating artistic responses to the responsibility, challenges and pleasures of living near vital waterways,” said Dr. Ritsma. “This exhibition was inspired by the fact that the Schingoethe Center of Aurora University is located in the Fox River Valley between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. This exhibition aims to be both visually stunning and educational.”

Doug Stapleton stated, “Water is essential for our existence. It makes up most of our body. We can’t live without it. Yet, we treat it like a commodity, a resource to extract for our needs alone. We act without much regard toward our impact on this elemental, living substance. This exhibit brings disparate voices together, all who address the power of water to nourish, sustain and inspire us to a greater relationship with the natural world.”

 “Waterways” features the work of the following artists: Sadiq Amarea-Bey, Robert Amft, Rene Arceo Atlan Arceo-Witzl, Frances Badger, Camille Billie, Jeremy Bolen, Clark Dean, Shepard Fairey, Laura Husar Garcia, Christina Haglid, Jennifer Steensma Hoag, Katsushika Hokusai, Yuichi Idaka, Jamie John, Esther Johnson, George Klauba, Louise LeBourgeois, Jin Lee, Nathan Lerner, Ben Mahmoud, Dolores Mercado, Fidel Moreno, Elsa Munoz, Bea Nettles, Lindsey Olson, Tom Palazzalo, Chris Pappan, Yoonshin Park, Erik Peterson, Alison Ruttan, Sarah Sense, Jennifer Shaw, Joel Sheesley, Art Sinsabaugh, Thomas Skomski, Eleanor Spiess-Ferris, Michael Strauss, Michael Tropea, Rain Wilson, David Windsor, Jeffrey Wolin, Ana Žanić.