Kiersten Fuhr - Staff Writer
The current exhibition in the Len G. Everett Gallery is American Questions – No Answers by Jesse Howard, a seasoned artist from Oak Park, Illinois. Howard’s work focuses on the struggles of African Americans in America today.
“African Americans today are faced with centuries of myths and misguided perceptions perpetuated by the dominant cultural; to a point they have reached a fever pitch across the country,” said Howard. “At times, the African American male is a prisoner within himself and trapped in his neighborhood usually because of his race or circumstance. One could argue that he was dead before birth.”
About his artwork itself, he said, “I often return to my old neighborhood to record images of the people there. My figures are typically distorted to reflect the pressure and anxiety individuals feel inside and the perceptions and expectations imposed upon them by society. These images illustrate the most pressing issues of contemporary life.”
Howard’s work is included in many permanent collections, including the DePaul University Art Museum, Beloit College, and the Minnesota Museum of Art. He was also a featured artist in the 2018 documentary The Color of Art, which focused on the “present-day renaissance of black art.”This exhibition is open until November 3rd.
Keep your eyes out for the gallery’s upcoming exhibition, the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition. All students are encouraged to submit up to three works of art in any medium they have created while being a student at Monmouth (pieces do not have to have been created in an art class). Submission dates are November 6th and 7th at the library gallery, times to be determined. More information can be found on posters around campus.