THE PHILADELPHIA JUNTO.: Jane Irish

Monday 19 December 2011

Jane Irish

War Is Not What You Think
By Klare Scarborough
[Special to Writers Clearinghouse News Service]

The La Salle University Art Museum and the Connelly Library will present the work of

Philadelphia‐based artist Jane Irish this winter. 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 as 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 ten 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/.

On view January 17 – March 29, 2012 at the La Salle University Art Museum and the Connelly Library. Opening reception, January 18, 2012, 5‐7 p.m. at the La Salle University Art Museum.

(Klare Scarborough is the director of the LaSalle University Art Museum).

The La Salle University Art Museum is located on the lower level of Olney Hall on the campus of La Salle University at 19th Street and Olney Avenue. 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/.

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Celebrating ....

Monday 19 December 2011

Jane Irish