Decatur Area Arts Council announces the March 2019 exhibit in the Anne Lloyd Gallery at the Madden Arts Center, 125 N. Water St. in downtown Decatur. Entitled “Signs of Life,” the exhibit will be open from March 1-27. It features paintings by Chicago artist, Jason Watts, who thinks of his paintings as “a mashup” of iconography, symbols and nostalgic references that create a unique sense of narrative and “evoke an alternate pop world.” His colorful, bold urban landscapes incorporate vintage neon signs, a voyeuristic view of lonely figures in apartment windows, Blues and Jazz images and the spirit of youth at play – iconic signs of life.
Originally from Ohio and transplanted to Chicago, Watts paints primarily with oil and egg tempera using a process that “incorporates many thin glazes of transparent color to arrive at the saturation that give his pieces a certain dramatic depth and surface quality.” He has shown in galleries across the US and his paintings can be found in many private and corporate collections.
The public is invited to attend the opening reception for the exhibit which will be held during the First Friday Gallery Walk in downtown Decatur, IL on Friday, March 1 from 5-7:30 pm. Watts will speak briefly about his art at 6 pm. The Millikin Guitar Ensemble will provide music throughout the evening. The event is open free to the public.
The First Friday Gallery Walk also includes:
- Blue Connection, 117 N. Water – Millikin University Junior Students’ Art exhibit
- Illinois Art Gallery, 160 E. Main St. – Cindy hardwood, fiber art and quilted art
- The ArtFarm, 252 N. Park St. – Art by Lucy Brownlee
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. For more information, contact the Decatur Area Arts Council at 423-3189.
