New Art Exhibition at South Suburban College

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This painting by artist Liz Lazdin entitled FLY Damien FLY, has a permanent home in the Woodlawn offices of FLY: Fearless -Leading -Youth; a grassroots organization.
This painting by artist Liz Lazdin entitled FLY Damien FLY, has a permanent home in the Woodlawn offices of FLY: Fearless -Leading -Youth; a grassroots organization.

South Suburban College has a new art exhibit on display through March 26.

The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College is presenting an exhibition of art works from Liz Lazdins entitled "Amongst Angels" in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery.

Illustrator and muralist, Liz Lazdins is also a poet and human rights activist.

Lazdins said of her work, "Action, voice, perseverance, resourcefulness, respect and memory are my angels. They are the angels of our city. They are ideas, but they are also alive in our loved ones and our mentors....Through portraiture, illustration, collage and graffiti-I pay tribute to the best of us. I challenge you to allow the influence and inspiration of these angels into your consciousness and ideally your actions.

Leaders are not always found where you would expect them-and sometimes the leader is you."

With a BA in Social Welfare from the University of Washington, Lazdins is primarily self-taught, her works can be seen on the walls of Chicago and in her shared studio at the Zhou B Art Center, located at 1029 W. 35th St. The Zhou B Center provides galleries, studio spaces, and a collaborative creative environment as a way to nurture the creativity and growth of its nearly 50 resident artists.

One of Lazdins' more recent paintings, entitled FLY Damien FLY, has a permanent home in the Woodlawn offices of FLY: Fearless -Leading -Youth; a grassroots organization.

Damian Turner (or Damian FLY) who was a founding member of the organization, died after having been caught in the cross-fire of a neighborhood shooting, and having to travel 45 minutes to receive medical attention.

In response, FLY has made it their mission to address youth violence and is demanding the University of Chicago Medical Center hospital raise the age of its trauma center policy to include children over age 15, in order to serve Chicago's south side.

Turner is the focal point of Lazdins portrait that hangs in FLY's office.

"I used flyers from various FLY actions in the background as well as my beloved Chicago stencil and some original art," Lazdins said in a previous article. "I only knew Damian in passing, but I was always impressed by his and all FLY members' courage to learn about social issues, protest in the streets and be leaders. What a perfect home for this creation."

Lazdins South Suburban free exhibit is on display in the College's Dorothea Thiel Gallery and a free closing reception is scheduled for at 1 p.m. on March 26.

The public is welcome to visit the art exhibition.

The Dorothea Thiel Gallery is located on the fourth floor of the college's Main Campus at 15800 State St. in South Holland, IL. and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays, and are supported in part by the SSC Foundation.

For more information, contact Jack Kirkpatrick for information at jkirkpatrick@ssc.edu or (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445.

By Deborah Bayliss

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