NEW EXHIBITS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN ICC ART GALLERIES FEB. 15

Two new exhibits open on February 15 at the Illinois Central College art galleries, located on the East Peoria Campus.

American Renegade, an installation by Bradley University alumnus Samantha Parker-Salazar, opens in Gallery 336B, located in the Academic Building.

In addition, an exhibit of photography by Britten Traughber opens in the ICC Performing Arts Center Gallery, located in the lobby of the facility.

The installation by Parker-Salazar includes a bit of “family history,” as it is based on the life one of her ancestors, Cynthia Ann Parker. She was captured at the age of 11 by the Comanche in 1836 from Fort Parker, near what is now Waco, Texas. She was viewed by her contemporaries as an abused captive and later as a deserter or harlot. Unlike other tribes, the Comanche were not concerned with keeping written record of their history. As a result, the story of Cynthia Ann became a blend of folklore and residual judgment of a woman who seemingly rejected white society to live among Quahadi natives. In American Renegade, Parker-Salazar presents works on paper that, through their materiality, illustrate the same violence and fragility that consumed her ancestor’s life.

Parker-Salazar earned her bachelor’s degree from Bradley University in 2001 and her master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. She was the 2014-15 John Fergus Post-MFA Fellow at The Ohio State University, where she also served as a lecturer in the printmaking area. Currently based in Columbus, Ohio, Salazar-Parker has taught workshops across the United States and has studied extensively in Europe. Her exhibition record includes national and international venues, as well as public and private collections. She has upcoming exhibits scheduled in Cleveland, Georgetown, Tex. and Veracruz, Mexico.

Hours of operation for Gallery 336B are Monday through Thursday, from 9 am to 5 pm and Friday from 9 am to noon. The Performing Arts Center Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm, and Friday from 9:30 am to noon. Operation of the galleries varies with ICC’s holidays and breaks; to confirm a gallery will be open at a particular time, call the ICC Arts and Communication Department at (309) 694-5113. The Performing Arts Center Gallery also is accessible when the Performing Arts Center is open for public events.

The exhibits are presented by the ICC Art Program and the Arts at ICC. The Arts at ICC has a rich history of enhancing the arts community and expanding education beyond the classroom. Arts at ICC presents more than 500 exhibits, performances, lectures, rehearsals, meetings, master classes, clinics, seminars, receptions, orientations, forums, auditions and tournaments annually.

For more information, visit ArtsAtICC.com, or contact the ICC Arts & Communication Department at (309) 694-5113.