By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Anyone searching for a way to beat the dull grey skies of January can now discover the cure with a walk through “Modern Werks” and “The Spectral Show,” which are on display in the rotunda of the Niles District Library.
A new exhibit featuring two area artists, Jorge Bosque of Niles and Brian M. Tilbury of Edwardsburg, is currently brightening the walls of the library's Eleanor and Mowitt Drew Gallery.
Bosque's background in graphic design stretches over a decade. He began studying the arts at Southwestern Michigan College and continued his education at Western Michigan University. Bosque's experience in graphic design shows in his work, which is crafted with acrylic paint, colored pencil and ink.
Sharp, hard-edged lines that form a variety of geometric shapes are a common theme in Bosque's work. Many of his pieces, such as “Bubbles in the Jungle,” burst with multi-colored circles surrounded by crisp, curved shapes that extend across the paper. Bosque also forms creatures in his pieces, as is the case with “Spikey II,” a jagged-looking fish whose insides are highly contrasted by the bold yellows, blues and reds.
Bosque is originally from Cuba, but said his ethnicity does not largely influence his art.
Bold coloring is the lone characteristic common in both artists. Tilbury's paintings are filled with free-flowing lines and generally showcase some sort of human element. It is not rare for Tilbury to paint many smaller images inside a larger piece, which sends the viewer's eye on a search around the entire canvas. Quite often the viewer is presented with a religious message or is challenged to think about social and political issues, such as in the painting titled, “All Around Us.”
Tilbury's paintings are detailed and, quite often, have required several attempts by the artist in order to meet his satisfaction.
Tilbury has been recognized for his work on numerous occasions. Some of his accomplishments include Best of Show at the Krasl Art Center's high school show, a nomination for a Merit Award from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a portfolio award from the Cleveland Institute of Art.