Exhibit includes work of Harry Potter illlustrator

An exhibition titled "Narration and Markmaking: Contemporary Group Illustration," featuring 47 works by 36 illustrators from around the world, will be on display in the Heuser Art Center gallery on the Bradley University campus from November 3 through December 3. The show explores the many styles of illustration used for contemporary children's books, editorial articles, newspapers, magazines and self-promotional work.

Promotional pieces done in oil by artist Jim Salvati for the Harry Potter movies are included as is a work titled "Little Jeezy" by artist Anita Kunz. That work was included in Rolling Stone.

"The works created by illustrators are often narrative. Whether there is a literal story or subject - or a more abstract relationship between colors and materials - the narrative in visual art applies as much to the work as it does to the viewer's "story" of what they will see," said Pam Ayres, director of galleries at Bradley, who curated the show with Melanie DeKeyrel.

Admission is free and gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

A reception will be held on Thursday, November 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Heuser Art Center gallery.

A gallery walk discussing illustration and the role of the illustrator will be led by participating artist and Peoria resident David McCall Johnston on November 17 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Johnston's work is included in publications such as, "The Illustrator in America, 1880-1980 A Century of Illustration," and "The Illustrator in America 1860-2000." Over the past 30 years Johnston's signature Americana style has crossed ocean borders to achieve international recognition. His work can be seen in the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village and The Jules Vernes Museum in Nantes, France. His work "Around the World in 80 Days" is on display in the Bradley exhibition. He has many other commissions to his credit including New York University, Time, Inc., the Mt. Rushmore National Monument Society, and Steuben Glass of Corning Incorporated. Johnston currently is creating a painting for Keeneland, a thoroughbred race course and sales company located near Lexington in the heart of Kentucky's famed Bluegrass Region. The movie Seabiscut was filmed at this location and serves as an inspiration for the work.

The exhibit will travel to Indiana State University following its debut at Bradley. The exhibit is sponsored in part by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, Blick Art Materials, Friends of Art, Jacob and Lorrie Bunn and the Intellectual and Cultural Activities Committee at Bradley.

For more information, contact Pam Ayres, director of galleries at Bradley at 309 677-2989.