NEIU ART GALLERY PRESENTS

Alvaro Ramirez: Nothing is Sacred
August 28th – September 29th, 2006

The Northeastern Illinois University Fine Arts Center Gallery is pleased to announce an installation by Alvaro Ramirez entitled Nothing is Sacred.  The exhibition will run August 28th through September 29th, 2006 with a public reception for the artist Friday September 15th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  The artist will be giving a public gallery talk on Tuesday September 5th from 1:30-2:30 pm.  Parking is free for guests in parking lot F, on the evening of the reception only, after 6 p.m. The entrance to parking lot F is located at 3701 West Bryn Mawr. All gallery events and programs are free and open to the public.
           
In his subject matter, materials, and process, Ramirez addresses the true icon of American culture—industry.  For his installation Nothing is Sacred Ramirez uses charcoal, wood, and gold to create imagery derived from Chicago's urban industrial landscape.    Using a push broom rather than a brush, Ramirez applies charcoal to the gallery wall to create a large scale drawing of a forklift.  This process mimics the repetitive movements inherent in factory and manual labor jobs thus introducing an element of performance in his work.  Gold leaf is also applied to the wall to create the remnants of a water tower.  These objects serve as monuments to industry and labor and as symbols of social class for generations of blue collar workers.

The NEIU gallery is located at 5500 N. St. Louis Avenue.  Enter the campus at 3701 West Bryn Mawr Avenue.  The Fine Arts Center Gallery is a visual exhibition space committed to showcasing innovative works of art in all media within a pluralistic, culturally diverse setting.  Please call 773-442-4944 for Fall semester gallery hours.