Event Details

Opening Reception for Jesse Howard, the Urban Abyss Series Exhibit

The Aurora Public Art Commission will unveil its new art exhibit, “Jesse Howard, the Urban Abyss Series,” next week starting with an opening reception.

The reception will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 in the Commission’s third floor gallery at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place. Light refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available.

Howard’s works delve into contemporary urban life, addressing such issues as homelessness, alienation and the connections made between people in various locations.

“I’m interested in the interaction of people in an urban setting whether it’s societal issues, the disenfranchised or the homeless,” he said.  “I want to capture their experiences, the effect they have on one another, as well as on the environment they are in at a particular point in time.”

Howard has had his work displayed widely in the Chicago area as well as nationally. His paintings have been included in such venues as the Museum of Science and Industry, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Chicago Union League, the Minnesota Museum of Art and the Chautauqua 21^st National Juried Drawing Show in New York.

Admission to the reception and gallery is free. The exhibit will be on display from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Friday through April 20.

Off-street parking is available in the Stolp Avenue parking deck, which is located at the corner of Downer Place and Stolp Avenue. With the Downer Place bridges under construction, the deck can be accessed from Stolp Avenue from either Galena Boulevard or Benton Street.

The Aurora Public Art Commission is a civic organization dedicated to the preservation of public art in all of its forms. For more information on the Commission or the gallery, visit the City’s website or call the Customer Service Center at 630-256-INFO.

Location: David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, Aurora, Illinois