Jessica Benjamin

January 11 - February 16, 2008
Armstrong Gallery

Sponsored by friends of the artist.

Jessica Benjamin shows paintings from The American Series at MCAC

Originally from Bloomington-Normal, Jessica Benjamin is currently a practicing artist residing in New York City. She will be returning home this winter for an exhibition of her work at McLean County Arts Center. MCAC will exhibit paintings from Benjamin’s The American Series in the Armstrong Gallery January 11 through February 16, 2008. The exhibition is generously sponsored by Friends of the Artist.

With The American Series, Benjamin endeavors conceptually to create a portrait of the United States by painting composite portraits of its residents. In combining her fine drawing ability with a dynamic use of color and expressive brushwork, Benjamin uses the medium of paint to give viewers pause to ponder what we come to know about ourselves and others through the mass of visual imagery that collides with us every day and how this visual barrage effects our understanding of ourselves and the world. For Benjamin painting “is capable of creating an instantaneous mood and feeling as pronounced as the reality of the subject.”

Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis used paintings from The American Series to illustrate his album From the Plantation to the Penitentiary. The paintings were previously shown at the New York Historical Society.

In addition to her exhibition, Ms. Benjamin will be leading free workshops for children at MCAC. Portrait Workshop: Our Community / Ourselves will be held on Saturday, January 12. The first session (10am to Noon) is for Grades K – 2 and the second session (1pm to 3pm) is for Grades 3 – 5. Space is limited so registration is required. Contact Tony at 309/829-0011. The resulting portraits will be exhibited in the lobby area of the MCAC through February 16, 2008.

An artist reception for Ms. Benjamin will be held on Saturday, January 19, from 5pm to 7pm at MCAC, just prior to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts’ presentation of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The reception is free and open to the public.

Additionally, MCAC is hosting High School Jazz at MCAC on the afternoon of Saturday, January 19. Beginning at noon and hourly thereafter local high school jazz bands will be showcasing their talents. This event is a non-competitive opportunity for high school jazz bands to play for and listen to each other. The program is free and open to the public.