The Salle University Art Museum and Connelly Library present Jane Irish. War is Not What You Think an exhibition on view January 17 – March 29, 2012.
Irish’s work explores the impact of the Vietnam War and its continuing relevance today. Through her paintings and ceramic vessels decorated with pastoral landscapes, people and poetry, Irish highlights the heroism of the soldiers as well the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, both of whom fought valiantly for freedom and peace.
Irish has been drawing visual inspiration and historical research contexts from the Connelly Library’s world-renowned rare book and manuscript collection, Imaginative Representations of the Vietnam War, for the past 10 years. This special collection contains over 20,000 creative items related to the Vietnam War, including novels, short stories, poetry, music, screenplays, graphic art, films, sound recordings, posters, prints, video and board games, as well as literary and visual pornography.
The exhibition will be held simultaneously in two locations. The La Salle University Art Museum will feature Irish’s large mural work, The Conversation, along with several related multi-media pieces. The exhibition will also include a selection of landscape paintings and ceramic vases. The Connelly Library will feature additional ceramic vases by Irish, juxtaposed with images and texts from its special collection, Imaginative Representations of the Vietnam War.
Irish was recently awarded a prestigious Pew Fellowship in the Arts in 2011. The artist is represented by Locks Gallery in Philadelphia, http://www.locksgallery.com/. More information about her life and work may be found on the artist’s website, http://www.janeirish.com/.
The La Salle University Art Museum is located on the lower level of Olney Hall on the campus of La Salle University at 19th St. and Olney Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Art Museum will also be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2012. Admission is free, though donations are accepted. Please call to schedule group visits. Special tours can be arranged. For further information call 215.951.1221 or visit the website at http://www.lasalle.edu/museum/.
The Connelly Library is located at the corner of 20th street and Olney Avenue, and is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For further information call 215.951.1293 or visit the website at http://www.lasalle.edu/library/.