Ruby Beck
James Butler
Tiffany Carter
Jennie Cell
Calvin Countryman
Sarah Elm
Helen Graham
Lodge Grant
Daniel Grzesiak
Ferd Metten
Lynn Louise Resnick
Elma Richy
Robert Root
Peter Stork
Ivan York
Paul T. Sargent
Laurie Stein
Larry Stock
Tiffany Taylor
"The View From Here to There" opens Saturday, April 19, 2008 and runs through June 22, 2008 in the Brainard Gallery and eGallery at the Tarble Arts Center on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.
The exhibit features artwork from native artists and examines the development of transportation corridors in central Illinois. To preview the featured artists, click their name in the column to the left.
In addition to the exhibit, the Tarble Arts Center is privileged to host two speakers who will present topics related to transportation (click on a speaker's name to learn more):
April 19, 2008, 1:00 p.m.
Dr. Susan Sessions Rugh, Professor of History,
Brigham Young University
April 21, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Richard Longstreth, Professor of American Civilization,
The George Washington University
The 2007-2008 Historical Administration class is:
Catherine Carman (Michigan), B.A., Ed. Social Studies Education
Matthew Cassady (Illinois), B.A. History
Angela Drews (Washington, D.C.), B.A. History
Sarah Elm (Illinois), B.A. Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration
Alisha Goode (Illinois), B.A. Anthropology
Daniel Grzesiak (Michigan), M.A. History
Kristen Lundquist (Minnesota), B.A. History and Biblical Studies
Alyson Mazzone (New York), B.A. Cultural Historic Preservation
Laurie Stein (Michigan), B.A. History and English
Tiffany Taylor (Utah), B.A. History
To get to know the HA class, visit the 2007-2008 website.
(Cowden, Illinois) Ruby Beck's painting in the exhibit features the Thompson Mill Covered Bridge just outside her native town of Cowden, Illinois.
(Fort Dodge, Iowa) James Butler received an MFA degree from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and began teaching art at Southern Illinois University in 1970. In 1976 he was hired by Illinois State University. His work is included iin over 160 public collections throughout the United States.
(Champaign, Illinois) Tiffany Carter received BFA from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah.
(Coles County, Illinois) Jennie Cell (1905-1988) began her painting career when she was 50 years old. She became nationally recognized as a rural landscape artist, and some of her paintings are now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. About her simple and deliberate paintings, she said, "I paint what I remember, not what I see."
(Rockford, Illinois) Calvin Countryman was an art teacher at Eastern Illinois State Teachers College (which became Eastern Illinois University), and increased the size of the art department there five-fold in just 12 years. Painting in transparent watercolor was his main interest. He received an AB degree from the University of Chicago in 1934 and an MA degree from Colorado State College in 1941.
(Mokena, Illinois) Sarah Elm, as a member of the HA class, was part of the Design team of the exhibit. Her photographic contribution is entitled "Detour."
(Illinois) Helen Graham's paintings of nostalgic country scenes add to the variety of artwork in the exhibit. Her paintings are for sale at the Tarble Arts Center gift shop, but she graciously allowed them to be temporarily pulled off the market for the exhibit.
(Marion, Illinois) Lodge Grant, born in 1903, learned the art of constructing buildings and furniture from a man working on his father's farm in Williamson County. He attended Illinois Normal University (now Southern Illinois University) and became a school administrator before returning to his old hobby of wood working.
(Saginaw, Michigan) As part of the photography team for the exhibit, Dan Grzesiak had the opportunity to utilize his artistic abilities in photograhing transportation corridors throughout central Illinois. He previously received a Master's degree in history and is currently part of the Historical Administration graduate program at Eastern Illinois University.
(Teutopolis, Illinois) Ferd Metton (1893-1977) was a self-taught wood carver who lived and worked on his family's farm up until his death. He developed his woodworking skills during the winters--between fall harvest and spring planting season.
(Greenup, Illinois) Elma Richy's painting in the exhibit shows a fall scene reminiscent of the area where she grew up.
(Shelbyville, Illinois) Robert Root (1863-1937) was born in Illinois and was academically trained in fine art. He had a successful career as an artist, but his work is not well-known in most artistic spheres.
(East Lansing, Michigan) Laurie Stein, as a member of the HA class, was part of the Curatorial team for the exhibit. Her photographic contribution is entitled "Cafe Mobilgas."
(Decatur, Illinois) Ivan York made his first toy truck for a grandchild. People at Staley’s, where York worked in Decatur, began asking for his trucks as desk decorations and retirement gifts. Several people began to collect his toys, often asking when he planned to carve a new model. York created other wooden toys such as boats, trains, airplanes and even ducks to satisfy consumer demand.
(Charleston, Illinois) Paul Sargent (1880-1946) raised his family on a farm near Charleston, Illinois. He was an academically-trained artist and painted in the American Impressionist style of the early 1920s.
(Centralia, Illinois) The art piece in the exhibit crafted by Larry Stock is a small replica of a Model-T car.
(Orem, Utah) As part of the photography team for the exhibit, Tiffany Taylor enjoyed utilizing her amateur photography experience in photographing transportation corridors throughout central Illinois. She received a BA degree in history at Brigham Young University and is currently part of the Historical Administration graduate program at Eastern Illinois University.