Members Only Preview: Being Bipolar in a Polarized World and The Thin Line

1957 Sheridan Road,Highland Park IL 60035

03 December, 2021

Description

Join us for a special, members-only preview! Join us for a special preview of our next exhibit, Being Bipolar in a Polarized World and The Thin Line, hosted by our curator, Caren Helene Rudman, our featured artist, Kelly Mathews, and Executive Director James M. Lynch. The Art Center Highland Park is addressing the link between ‘madness’ and ‘genius’ in the context of art. From Van Gogh to Virginia Woolf, and in recent years Kusama and Robin Williams, the line between what we call lucidity and insanity is so often visible, but yet, it can be both celebrated and feared, discussed and stigmatized. The discourse around the terms, “madness or insanity” has been deconstructed in a post-modern world, where the ultimate goal of creative expression is to lose oneself completely, leading to a normalization for artists to reveal their struggles. That is positive. Guest Juror and featured artist, Kelly Mathews, a Chicago artist has been awarded an Individual Artists Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, for her project; Being Bipolar in a Polarized World.” Kelly states, “Mental Illness can be tragic and heartbreaking. It can also be beautiful. Consider Van Gogh. When he looked at the night sky, he saw “The Starry Night”. If he had not existed and painted, we could never share his vision. This exhibit is to celebrate those of us who see things a little different and offer you a peek into our world.” TACHP harnesses the transformative power of art to change and improve lives through impactful and innovative exhibitions. We showcase national and regional artists to our 4 museum quality gallery spaces with exhibitions for established and emerging artists. Community outreach is a vital part of our galleries ability to inspire, connect and expand the TACHP reach.