Unique Art Exhibit on Display at Monmouth U

Many people who visit Monmouth University know of the large-scale performances that take place at the Pollak Theatre as well as the Multipurpose Activity Center. However, there is one building, the 800 Gallery, which offers patrons a great sense of the art world, and does so for no cost at all.

This week, Monmouth University’s 800 Gallery is featuring some very interesting work by Edward E. Jankowski. The exhibit is titled, “Art & Influences, Selected Works: 1971-2011.” The exhibit runs until Friday, March 11 and is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.

This exhibit is quite fascinating as not only are there paintings on the walls of the 800 Gallery, like most other art exhibits, but there are also a wide variety of collages, sculptures and artifacts on display for the public to view.

“The collected artifacts in this exhibition are a natural part of my environment and a stimulus to my eclectic way of thinking,” Jankowski said. “Each one holds its own story.”

According to Jankowski, the pieces of artwork in this exhibit are a combination of contemporary art, art history, primitive art and pop culture. To show off this artwork, many different materials are used, including wood, bronze, plastic and paint.

One section of this exhibit looks at unique masks, with wooden masks inspired by Japan, Guatemala and Zaire. There is also a collection of unique doorknockers on display, most notably the Da Vinci doorknocker made out of bronze. Also made of bronze are four unique staffs, with names like “Mickey Rat,” “Demented Disney Defect,” “The Bureaucrat,” and “Hawk Staff.”

There is also a unique collection of figurines on display, with such classics as the Bob’s Big Boy figurine from 1950, the General Electric Radio Figure from the early 1930’s, and even a figurine of the classic Popeye character Wimpy, who famously uttered “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday, for a hamburger today.”

Jankowski graduated from the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and taught studio arts and art history at Monmouth University for the past 41 years. He has also showcased exhibits in Chicago, Minneapolis, and in Thompson Park in Lincroft, New Jersey.

For more information on the exhibit, contact Scott Knauer, director of the galleries and collections, at 732-923-4786, or e-mail him at sknauer@monmouth.edu.