Harold Washington Library Center hosts an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month art exhibit featuring the work of artist Mark Yee.
The Year of the Ram: Paintings by Mark Yee will be on display from May 1 through July 3 at Harold Washington Library Center, in the Popular Library on the ground floor and the flat exhibit cases on the 8th floor.
In the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, 2015 is the Year of the Sheep or Ram. And although sheep are often considered gentle and calm, these battle-worn rams are anything but. Yee’s abstract paintings inspire those who feel worn down to persevere and emerge stronger for the next fight.
Yee will present The Business of Art: Artist Survival Guide at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23 in the Chicago Authors Room on the 7th floor of the Harold Washington Library Center.
Artist Statement
“At first glance, my paintings evoke thoughts of nature. Some viewers see snow-covered forests, autumn landscapes or ships on the ocean. Many find my large paintings to be powerful and meditatively calm at the same time. Upon closer examination, a highly textured surface becomes evident. The rough surface is reminiscent of something old and worn, like the side of old barn or park bench that has been painted over and over again.
"Each painting comes into its own in an emergent way as I engage and respond to what is happening on the canvas. I might simply enjoy or meditate on a painting for up to a year or more before taking another step. My paintings are done when the frenetic energy resolves itself and the layers appear to effortlessly merge and meld, telling a story of harmony and balance.”
