Jesse Howard Art Exhibit Coming to SSC's Thiel Gallery

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Jesse Howard. The exhibition will be on display in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery March 9 – April 16 with an artist reception on March 20 at 1:00 in the Thiel Gallery, room 4333.

Since the 1980’s, Jesse Howard’s socially-concerned drawings have focused on the plight of the homeless and the disenfranchised, particularly African Americans in urban environments. Informed by his own unsettling upbringing on Chicago’s West side and his lived experience as a black man, Howard is sensitive to the way these populations are viewed, treated and often dismissed. As the artist explains, “At times, [a black man] is a prisoner within himself and/or the neighborhood he’s trapped in, usually because of his race or circumstances; one could argue that he was dead before birth.”

Produced in charcoal, watercolor and collage, his figures are typically distorted, reflecting the pressure and anxiety the individuals feel inside as well as the perceptions and expectations imposed upon them by society. In addition, the physical presence of urban life is often evident through bits of newspaper, receipts or various other scraps affixed to the surface of the portraits.

The public is welcome to visit art exhibitions and receptions at no charge. The Dorothea Thiel Gallery is located on the fourth floor and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. The galleries are supported in part by the SSC Foundation. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. Contact (708) 596-2000 ext. 2316.