Spring Break
'A logical combination': Retired historian showcases art with a presidential theme
Danielle Torralba
Issue date: 10/27/08 Section: News
From George Washington to George W., an art exhibit featuring images of all 43 presidents opens in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library today.
The exhibit, called "From George Washington to George W.: Presidents Getting Verse," was created by Joe Illick and is on the second floor of the library, which hosts Illick's 30 woodcuts in various colored inks of all 43 presidents of the United States.
"I didn't start it with this whole series in mind," he said. "I started with a wood cutting of George Washington, then I did Lincoln, then I thought why not do all the presidents since I knew a lot about them from a course in American biography."
Illick is a professor emeritus of history at San Francisco State University. He began working on his artwork in 2000.
"I am a retired historian who has taught a course in American biography, and now I am becoming an artist. It is a logical combination of what I was and what I hope to be," Illick said.
After completing his artwork in 2005, his exhibit was put on display at San Francisco State University in the fall of 2007, and again at UC Berkley in the winter of 2007.
Candice McGee, a representative of King Library, said the library is looking forward to host this exhibit.
"Because there is so much focus on the presidential election this year, I feel this is an excellent exhibit to be shown in the library at this time," she said. "Professor Illick's work gives a lighter spin on each president's life. I think everyone will enjoy the carvings and the rhymes. The verse, as Professor Illick states, is intended to amuse, but also instruct."
Amber Yasukawa-Ortiz, a junior art history major, said she heard about the exhibit and is looking forward to see it.
"This exhibit will be great for students to check out. I heard it is a great expression of politics and history through art," she said. "History expressed through art can help you get in touch with political entities. It allows you to look at them on a more personal level and helps express how you feel about them in an artistic way."
On Wednesday, Illick will host a lecture in the library called, "Why Use Art to Study American Presidents?"
He will discuss the reasons for choosing to use woodcuts to continue to "teach" American history after his retirement, said Patricia Hill, chair of the history department at SJSU.
"The election makes Dr. Illick's work especially timely," she said. "The exhibition will provide historical context, which is especially important when we are choosing a leader."
With the lecture being hosted close to Halloween, Illick joked about doing something special.
"Maybe I'll even dress up as a president; it'd have to be one from California, so maybe Reagan. I can come in wearing a cowboy hat."
The exhibit, called "From George Washington to George W.: Presidents Getting Verse," was created by Joe Illick and is on the second floor of the library, which hosts Illick's 30 woodcuts in various colored inks of all 43 presidents of the United States.
"I didn't start it with this whole series in mind," he said. "I started with a wood cutting of George Washington, then I did Lincoln, then I thought why not do all the presidents since I knew a lot about them from a course in American biography."
Illick is a professor emeritus of history at San Francisco State University. He began working on his artwork in 2000.
"I am a retired historian who has taught a course in American biography, and now I am becoming an artist. It is a logical combination of what I was and what I hope to be," Illick said.
After completing his artwork in 2005, his exhibit was put on display at San Francisco State University in the fall of 2007, and again at UC Berkley in the winter of 2007.
Candice McGee, a representative of King Library, said the library is looking forward to host this exhibit.
"Because there is so much focus on the presidential election this year, I feel this is an excellent exhibit to be shown in the library at this time," she said. "Professor Illick's work gives a lighter spin on each president's life. I think everyone will enjoy the carvings and the rhymes. The verse, as Professor Illick states, is intended to amuse, but also instruct."
Amber Yasukawa-Ortiz, a junior art history major, said she heard about the exhibit and is looking forward to see it.
"This exhibit will be great for students to check out. I heard it is a great expression of politics and history through art," she said. "History expressed through art can help you get in touch with political entities. It allows you to look at them on a more personal level and helps express how you feel about them in an artistic way."
On Wednesday, Illick will host a lecture in the library called, "Why Use Art to Study American Presidents?"
He will discuss the reasons for choosing to use woodcuts to continue to "teach" American history after his retirement, said Patricia Hill, chair of the history department at SJSU.
"The election makes Dr. Illick's work especially timely," she said. "The exhibition will provide historical context, which is especially important when we are choosing a leader."
With the lecture being hosted close to Halloween, Illick joked about doing something special.
"Maybe I'll even dress up as a president; it'd have to be one from California, so maybe Reagan. I can come in wearing a cowboy hat."
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