The Steckline Gallery at Newman University presents “Ars Ex Machina” by artist Lee Shiney, the fifth exhibit of the gallery’s 2010-2011 season. The show, which is curated by Chris Gulick, will begin with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, as part of the Wichita “Final Friday” art gallery crawl. The exhibit will run through Feb. 18.
An “Art for lunch” event related to the exhibit will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at the gallery. A light lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. All the events – the opening reception, “Art for lunch,” and admission to the gallery – are free and open to the public.
Shiney, a resident of Kechi, Kan., uses a variety of media in his works, including paintings, printed paper, three-dimensional kinetic sculpture and others. His abstract, colorful works are unique and representative of his philosophy that art should be available and accessible. His works have appeared in several places in Wichita, Kansas City, and Lawrence.
“My goal for artwork is to lower its status, to see it as a universal language that anyone can speak,” Shiney said. “I am astonished that we still get all wrapped up in rules and permissions when it comes to art, when in fact, all one has to do is simply do it. . . . I don’t believe it must be relegated to only the masters. We all have capacities to write, to draw, to create in our own ways.”
For more information on Shiney and his works, visit www.leeshiney.com.
The Steckline Gallery is located inside the De Mattias Fine Arts Center on the Newman campus, 3100 McCormick. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, call 316-942-4291, ext. 2199.
