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Politically-Inspired Sculptures Of John Kissick Featured In Hatton Gallery Exhibition

Thursday, March 13, 1997

FORT COLLINS--The sculptures of John Kissick, whose art symbolically depicts Northern Ireland's violent urban warfare, will be featured in a monthlong exhibition at Colorado State University's Hatton Gallery.

"John Kissick: Lead and Light" includes recent work that focuses on the political strife in Northern Ireland as a means of exploring human suffering, pain and sadness.

The exhibit opens with a lecture by the artist about his work at 4:10 p.m. March 24 in Room F-101 Visual Arts Building. A reception at the gallery will follow Kissick's presentation. The exhibit runs through April 25.

Kissick is an artist, author, art critic and faculty member at the School of Visual Arts at Pennsylvania State University. He is author of "Art: Context and Criticism," and a frequent contributing writer to "New Art Examiner" and other publications. Kissick has received numerous awards for his writing and visual work.

For nearly a decade, Kissick's work has focused on the visual expression of suffering in relation to political practice and art. The artist's recent visits to Northern Ireland, particularly Belfast, have focused his attention on the expression of sorrow spawned by acts of violent urban turmoil.

Kissick's work metaphorically traces Northern Ireland's violent legacy onto the surface of large lead panels, which serve as a somber canvas for the political realities of a turbulent country.

Through his art, Kissick explores the effects of persistent community violence, especially on children. Three large panels, for example, feature painted diagrams of children's games, symbols of the traumatic effects urban warfare has on the development of a nation's children.

The Hatton Gallery is located in the Visual Arts Building and is open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. All programs are free and open to the public.

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