The Oak Park Area Arts Council Presents An Art Exhibit by Jesse Howard at Oak Park Village Hall

Contact: Charity Piet Miska
708.358.5693

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2012

The Oak Park Area Arts Council Presents
An Art Exhibit by Jesse Howard at Oak Park Village Hall

Artist Jesse Howard

Artist Jesse Howard Hanging Art at Oak Park Village Hall

The Oak Park Area Arts Council is proud to present an exhibit by Jesse Howard during the months of January and February 2012 at Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL.

Jesse was born in Chicago, IL. At an early age, he showed an interest in drawing cartoon characters and rehabbing empty garages into club spaces. He demonstrated an aptitude to create and change chaotic spaces into something livable. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Ball State University, with a major in Commercial Art and a minor in Business Administration. One of his favorite instructors, Larry Graham encouraged him to pursue truth and spirituality in his subject matter.

Eager to continue to develop his graphic art skills, Jesse worked for a topographer in Chicago. He found his field of art too mechanical and client based. He wanted more control over his creativity. For twenty years he took a different career path into business. In the eighties, he rededicated himself to Fine Art. He began studying sculptors, such as Richard Hunt and Martin Puryear; he felt they had a grasp of space and materials.

Since his rededication, his art work has appeared in many galleries nationwide and his career has been covered in many publications. His first major one person show in 1984 was with Zriny Gallery. He also exhibited with the Chicago Cultural Center, 5+5 In Perspectives In Black Art, just to name a few. Jesse’s themes often present us with an image of African American males as he has seen them in Chicago urban settings. One of his exhibits, “The Diminishing Black Male,” brings to light how the plight of African American youth is indicative of a greater social and cultural dilemma.

A reception, sponsored by the Oak Park Area Arts Council and The West Town Chapter of the LINKS will be held on Friday, February 17 from 6:30-8 pm.

For more information about the exhibit, please call the Oak Park Area Arts Council at
(708) 358-5693 or visit the Arts Council’s website, www.OakParkAreaArtsCouncil.org.

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Oak Park Area Arts Council
P.O. Box 950, Oak Park, IL 60303
Phone (708) 358-5690 • Fascimille (708) 383-6692 • E-mail: info@oakparkareaartscouncil.org.