SAY SHEESE: New Exhibition in Brand New Art Gallery

EAST PEORIA —  While Illinois Central College students enjoyed a fast and frosty winter vacation, multiple men and women worked diligently on constructing the East Peoria campus’ newest attraction, a brand new art gallery.

The gallery, located in the Cafe Breve third floor lounge area with a full espresso bar and study area, is the replacement of the 306A art gallery on the same floor.

Like the old gallery, the cafe gallery features guest exhibitions monthly for no charge. With more student traffic, its new location has made the gallery quite a success.

“I’d say there’s at least double the amount of visitors,” said Angeline Tiehen, 26, a student and gallery guard.  “It’s definitely more of an enjoyable job now. I will take any chance to discuss art and the gallery in a perfect venue.”

The first and current exhibit in the gallery is Endless Days of Summer by Grace Sheese, a Bloomington native and professional ceramic artist. The exhibit features her clay creations, most of which act as vases for clay flowers. Painted on the works are various summertime symbols, like trees, flowers and animals.

In her artist statement, Sheese states life is comprised of “both large and small moments,” and that she “tries to capture” the small moments in her work. For inspiration, Sheese credits her three-year-old son. “His imagination and playfulness,” Sheese explains, “really inspire me to create my works of art. His sense that anything is possible really stays with me in the studio and in life.”

Sheese is a graduate of both the College of William and Mary and Illinois State University, having earned her BA in ceramics at the former and MFA in the latter. Her work has been exhibited throughout schools in Illinois, as well as Oregon and Indiana.

The new gallery has the same hours as its old location, 9:00a.m. – 8:00p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00a.m. – 4:00p.m. on Friday. Sheese’s Endless Days of Summer will be on the display until Saturday, Feb. 15.