Art Institute of Chicago Hosts 200-Piece Italian Nativity Scene From 1700s

ABC7 CHICAGO
By Frank Mathie

ILLINOIS--When we think of Nativity scenes or mangers, we usually think of small religious settings under the Christmas tree. But ABC7 Eyewitness Reporter Frank Mathie says the Art Institute of Chicago has gone big time with this ancient sacred story. "It's a crèche. A Neapolitan crèche. The Italians call it a precepio and it comes from the 18th century for the celebration of Christmas," said Sylvain Bellenger, curator, medieval European sculpture. Bellenger is responsible for acquiring the crèche from a collector in Naples, Italy. The familiar cast of Christmas Eve characters is all here but they are here in abundance, and they're dressed in the finest of Italian silks made by the finest designers almost 300 years ago. [Link]

 

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Gallery Owner: Every Piece of Judaica Has a Story

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
By Donald Liebenson

Judaica from the Arthur M. Feldman Gallery

ILLINOIS---Part art gallery, part museum and part salon, the Arthur M. Feldman Gallery is back in business in Highland Park. The storefront location at 465 Roger Williams Ave. opened last month after Feldman previously operated a gallery of antiques, fine art and Judaica in downtown, first on St. Johns Avenue and then on Central Avenue. Feldman, a second-generation antiques dealer with degrees in art history and archaeology, served as director of the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. To continue educating the public, Feldman will present exhibitions under his banner Jewish Museum of Chicago. The first, a showing of commissioned Purim masks created by professional Chicago artists, is scheduled for March 2014. [link]

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Jason Seiler, the Artist Who Painted TIME's Person of the Year 2013

TIME
By D.W. Pine and Skye Gurney

ILLINOIS---To capture the essence of Pope Francis, we turned to Chicago-based artist Jason Seiler, a classically trained oil painter who recently taught himself to paint digitally on a 21-inch LCD display. Seiler spent more than 70 hours creating the Person of the Year artwork, which continues the rich tradition of great portraiture on the cover of TIME. “A lot of times before I start a painting, I see it finished in my head,” he says. “With the Pope, I let it happen organically.” [link]

Photographs courtesy Jason Seiler, Ava Seiler, and Jacqueline Patrice

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Art of Christian Contemporary Artist He Qi Featured at GPS Faith Dec. 8

THE ROCK RIVER TIMES

"More Art The Empty Tomb And The Risen Lord" By He Qi |

ILLINOIS---GPS Faith Community invites the public to a free open house to view the traveling exhibition of the art of He Qi, Christian contemporary artist, and hear Dr. Qi speak about his experiences as a Christian artist from China. The open house will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, at GPS Faith Community, 10714 N. Second St., Machesney Park, Ill. Dr. Qi will speak at 5 p.m. and will have signed posters and books available for sale. Twenty-three pieces are on display and have been on tour throughout the United States since 2009. The vivid and contemporary art depicts Biblical stories and characters from both the Old Testament and New Testament. For more about the art exhibit or the church, contact the GPS Faith Community office at (779) 221-8491 or Info@GPSFaith.com. Visit GPS Faith Community on the website at www.GPSFaith.com.[link]

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$32 million university donation a boost for study of ancient Asian art

UNIVERSITY WORLD
By Yojana Sharma

ILLINOIS---A visit to the abandoned and dilapidated Yangon University campus in Myanmar over a year ago was the unlikely setting for a discussion that led to a groundbreaking £20 million (US$32 million) donation to London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies, SOAS. The grant from the Alphawood Foundation in Chicago will go towards training art and culture experts in ancient Hindu and Buddhist art in South East Asia, and will help revive museums in those countries after decades of neglect. [link]

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The Art Institute of Chicago's 18th-Century Neapolitan Crèche

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB

ILLINOIS---The Art Institute of Chicago will unveil a new aquisition this holyday season, " Neapolitan Crèche: The Nativity and Three Wise Men and Their Courts and Treasures." It is a mid-18th-century Neapolitan crèche, and considered one of the very few and finest examples of such a work outside of Naples, the crèche is an intricate Nativity scene that reflects the vitality and artisanship that the city is still known for. The Art Institute’s crèche features over 200 figures—including no less than 50 animals and 41 items of food and drink—all staged in a spectacular Baroque cabinet with a painted backdrop. Sacred imagery reenacting the Nativity has its roots in fourth-century Rome but by the 13th and 14th centuries, in part due to its association with St. Francis of Assisi, such scenes had become a permanent feature of Neapolitan churches.

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Artist, Tom Torluemke Brings His Contemporary View of the Nativity to Indianapolis

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB

"Birth of Jesus" (2010) acrylic on wood, 42" x 24" x 18"

INDIANA---Chicago-native, Tom Torluemke isn't afraid to look at his Christianity differently than others in his tradition, including the birth of Jesus. His "Birth of Jesus" is one of the show-stopping works now on display this November as part of the 2013 Spirit & Place Festival in Indianapolis. "It's not your Sunday school illustration of the story" explains Gregory Disney-Britton, chair of Alpha Omega Arts. "The focus is on the halo, the birth canal, and a pierced heart of a mother," he says. "It's very much a postmodern illustration of the Nativity." Torluemke is one of 30 artists showcased in the Alpha & Omega: Religious Risks inaugural exhibition about religious risk this month, Disney-Britton says. Tom is also featured in a concurrent local solo-show at Mount Comfort Gallery. "Birth of Jesus" will remain on view through Nov. 29 at Indiana Interchurch Center's IIC Gallery along with a wide range of other artist works including photography, paintings, sculptures, textiles, and a light installation. Each is highly distinctive, although each has a religious integrity.

You can thank Tom, and the other artists for taking a risk with religious imagination, by making a gift to the Alpha Omega Prize: Artist Fund via power2give.org. 

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New Drawing: "Great Battle in Heaven" by Daniel Mitsui

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB

"Great Battle in Heaven" (2013) by Daniel Mitsui

ILLINOIS---Daniel Mitsui's new ink drawing "Great Battle in Heaven" is a composition based on Albrecht Dürer's famous series of 15 woodcuts illustrating the Apocalypse, first published in 1498.  Mitsui, a freelance artist drew it using both dip pens and technical pens; calligraphers' inks mixed with gum arabic; and palladium and 23k gold leaf adhered with gum ammoniac. He lives in Chicago with his wife and three children. For more information on his religious drawings, visit his website: danielmitsui.com.

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Jesus Salgueiro: The Intersection of Mandalas and Nylon

HUFFINGTON POST
By Elysabeth Alfano

Photo: Courtesy of the artist

ILLINOIS---When I attended a preview of distinguished Chicago artist Jesus Salgueiro, I was thrilled to learn the story behind his art. Salgueiro unveiled his latest works of art in a surprisingly short exhibit: "Going Gaga for Love Mandalas." His two-part exhibit focused on his affinity for love, featuring 12 iconic renditions of pop super star Lady Gaga -- including one piece that even made her cry upon seeing it -- as well as 42 "love" mandalas, a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hindu and Buddhist cultures. Salgueiro's mandalas are large, inviting, imposing and tranquil all in one. Mandalas represent the universe, the circle of life and radial balance. Most often created in sand and swept away shortly after completion, Salgueiro's mandalas are unique as they are done on canvas with nylon, creating a lasting image of this spiritual symbol. [link]

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