AK Segan art
Macomb Journal - Macomb, Illinois
by Tom Redz, journal staff writer
Friday, March 26, 2004
macombjournal.com
WIU art gallery looks to the west for artists
MACOMB - Once again, the Western Illinois University Art Gallery succeeds at holding an art exhibition that combines the work of two drastically different artists.
At the public reception for both artists last week, visitors on the first floor took in the stitched imagery of Mary Rozycki Hiltner's exhibit "Stitched Images," before ascending the stairs to view Akiva Kenneth Segan's "Under the Wings of G-d."
Hiltner, a graduate of Syracuse University and current resident of Wichita, Kansas, has been working in the medium of stitched imagery for more than five years, after a long history with sewing.
What appears on fabric to be innocent images that one would find on a quilt belonging to an infant, reveals deeper, more sardonically abstract undertones when one looks more closely.
"We all know that home life is not always as sweet as it is portrayed," said Hiltner. "The seams are usually sort of double stories. There is a sweet image when you first go to it or if you look at it more closely, there's usually something odd going on."
Hiltner claims most of her work is autobiographical.
On what many would consider to be the opposite end of the spectrum is Seattle artist Segan's documentary / memorial drawings of those who did not survive the Holocaust.
Each of Segan's drawings depicts victims of persecution by the Nazis, often recreated from an actual picture, with bird wings added to their bodies.
Segan creates art that openly addresses the atrocities of a dark period of world history, to raise social awareness of current generations through art.
"Stylistically, in art school terms, (my art) is representational, somewhere in between realism and abstraction," said Segan, who went onto to credit a previous trip to Poland as his inspiration for his works in "Under the Wings of G-d."
"Going to Poland tremendously affected me," said Segan. "Poland is like the biggest Jewish cemetery and graveyard in the world, because the killing fields are all over the place."
At art exhibitions, one would think that most inquiries would be made about the works of art, however it was the title of Segan's collection that has visitors looking for answers.
"It was done out of respect to observant Jews," said Segan, who went on to explain that the use of the word G-O-D" would be considered profane, requiring Jews to use alternative words in prayer.
"An English equivalent to that would be to write God without the O in there and substitute it with a dash," added Segan.
To aid in the understanding of his work and to spread the social awareness of the Holocaust, the artist will be visiting WIU for three days.
Segan is planning on inviting local teachers and their classes to view his work on April 6, hosting a gallery walk from 6 to 8pm on Apr. 7 and delivering a speech on social justice titled "Holocaust Education Through Art" at noon on April 8.
"The Hiltner exhibit is marvelous to look at the traditional medium, with an updated imagery that is definitely throwing us some curve balls," said John Graham, curator of exhibits at the WIU Art Gallery.
"The work of Segan is a very powerful statement honoring those that perished in the Holocaust. ..that is not to be forgotten, so it won't be repeated....efforts like Segan's are much needed in our world today."
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Two color reproductions were printed to the right of the text of the article.
The art caption:
(Right) Mary Rozycki Hiltner's stitched imagery "I Want What You Have" and (above)
Akiva Kenneth Segan's drawing "Laja Lederman with Daughters Zosia and Hanah," both on display at the WIU Art Gallery.