The theme for this month’s arts picks is seeing things with new eyes. Whether its the Celebration Company’s fresh look at The Taming of the Shrew, exploring how an artist’s vision grows and changes in a retrospetive of Don Lake’s work, taking inspiration from nature in a creativity workshop at Krannert Art Museum with Kelly Hieronymus, or charting your own art crawl through some new or new-to-you art spots in Champaign-Urbana, this month in the arts is full of opportunities to see things anew.
The Taming of the Shrew
If your most recent memory of The Taming of the Shrew is Ten Things I Hate About You with a young Heath Ledger (may he rest in peace), you’re due for a reimagining of this challenging tale. The Celebration Company at the Station Theatre is bravely taking on the story of Kat—the “irksome, brawling scold” and, more importantly, its representation of patriarchal power. This is an important time for this discussion and (IMHO) there’s no better vehicle than live theatre. Stay tuned to the arts section for Katie Burke’s upcoming preview this Thursday.
The Taming of the Shrew
The Celebration Company at the Station Theatre
June 6th through 22nd, 7:30 p.m., June 22nd matinee, 3 p.m.
223 N Broadway Ave, Urbana
$15 general admission, $10 students
Tickets available online
Photo from Facebook event page
Don Lake Retrospective
Don Lake is a renowned teacher and master of transparent watercolor painting. This exhibition brings together thirty years of work—a deep dive into the artist’s vision and how it changed over time. In the website description for the show Lake observes that “with this show I have had the opportunity to stop and look back.” Moreover, he finds that he is “seeing my work as a diary of sorts; the paintings record my interests over time and I’m reminded of not only the big shifts in my focus but how the separate groups of work came into play.” Sounds like there is a lot to inspire and learn from here; especially if you can make it Lake’s artist talk later this month. See details below.
Don Lake Retrospective
Giertz Gallery at Parkland College
June 17th through August 8th
2400 W Bradley Ave, Champaign
Reception: June 20th, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., gallery talk by the artist at 6:30 p.m.
Additional artist talk by Don Lake: June 25th, 6 p.m., room C118
Summer gallery schedule available online
Photo: © Don Lake, 2019
Creativity Workshop: Drawing on Nature
Attention creatives and art-makers: now’s the time to take your artmaking outside and get some inspo from nature, some wisdom from artist Kelly Hieronymus, and some much needed Vitamin D. Whatever your medium or level of experience, take advantage of this chance to explore KAM’s Gelvin Gardens and let your creative juices flow.
Creativity Workshop: Drawing on Nature
Krannert Art Museum Gelvin Gardens
June 27th, 3 p.m. free
500 E Peabody, Champaign
Photo: Krannert Art Museum Gelvin Gardens, 2015 @ Julia Nucci Kelly
Choose your own (art) adventure: part one
Lots of options to choose from.
In my recent profile on linoblock illustrator Lisa Kesler, I mentioned that, thanks to a Urbana Public Arts grant, she was able to share her many skills with Urbana High School art students. Well now you can see the work that they made. And if you make it to the reception (which I suggest you do), you can meet Kesler and her young artist friends.
Artist of the Corridor Exhibition | Linoleum + Ink
City of Urbana Building
June through August
Opening reception: June 6th, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
400 S Vine St, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Photo from Facebook event page
Lawn d’Arts
As you may know, this writer loves a good pop-up, especially in good weather. A while back I gave you the heads-up about this chock-full-of-talented-artists event and now it’s just a few days away. The casual setting makes it easy to chat up the artists and learn more about them and their work. Bring $ so you can be sure to treat yourself to something special from this range of textiles, ceramics, paintings, more. Stay tuned to the arts section for an interview with ceramic artist Cory McCrory this Wednesay.
Lawn d’Arts
Sampson ‘N Delilah
Saturday, June 8th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1011 S Elm Blvd., Champaign
Photo from Facebook event page
Choose your own (art) adventure: part two
In case you haven’t noticed, Urbana is having a moment. The opening of Analog, with a large amount of dedicated event and gallery space—in addition to its wine bar and library, is a futher proof that this moment has gathered momentum. Enjoy an adult beverage while listening to Ryan Groff and check out the work by some our town’s most talented and witty artists/designers.
Analog Gallery: June Opening Reception
June 7th, 5 to 9 p.m.
129 Race St, Urbana
Photo from Facebook event