SOUTH HOLLAND, IL –The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College is pleased to announce a special guest artist solo exhibition of paintings titled “Moves” by Jay Songero in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery from October 13th through November 20th. There will also be a closing reception for the artist on Tuesday, October 20th at 1:00 p.m. The Dorothea Thiel Gallery is located on the 4th Floor of SSC’s Main Campus. Samples of Songero’s work may be viewed at www.songero.com. The paintings and drawings are inspired by and reflect abstract expressionism and stain painting. The work reflects upon the relationship between viewer and the material essence of the painted image without need for second person.
Songero graduated Thornton High School and attended South Suburban College in the early 70’s as a student for the founder of the SSC Art & Design Department–Dorothea Thiel. A native born Chicago “south-sider,” Songero also attended Northern Illinois University where he studied as a teacher and painter, and earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Arts Degrees. He subsequently studied and exhibited in New York City in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. His career was changed by meeting the influential dealer OK Harris Gallery, Mr. Ivan Karp, a cigar-chomping, fast-talking New York gallery owner who helped find, popularize and market the Pop Artists of the 1960’s, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg. Later, Songero would show in international traveling shows with both Warhol and Lichtenstein, meeting such artists as Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Elaine de Kooning, and Betty Parsons in group shows he participated in at the Arts in Embassy Program and Frank Marino Gallery.
Songero made a life changing move leaving the art world disenchanted with the “hype and faddish world that art had become.” Songero descended into seclusion for almost thirty years only to return when prompted by friends, and a dealer and art promoter persuaded him to begin exhibiting his work once again. He has held a studio and continued to paint in his signature style in Chicago. He has taken elements of the New York school to move his individual vision and expression of action painting through a poured technique and signature style.
SSC Galleries are open at minimum Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. The public is welcome to visit art exhibitions and receptions at no charge.
For more information, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445 or visit www.ssc.edu/art. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.
