The Mary Bishop Memorial Gallery at the Crawfordsville District Public Library would like to invite the community to view the work of local artist John R. Oilar.
His work will be on display now through mid-August during CDPL’s normal hours of operation. Artworks will be for sale during the exhibition through the circulation department.
Oilar is a well-known international artist who renders various people and sceneries in ink. He studied art and history in Europe, spending most of his time in Florence, Italy. He graduated with honors from Western New Mexico University and was awarded the Outstanding Distinguished Alumni in 2000. He was also a scholarship graduate of the Art Instruction Schools of Minneapolis.
Oilar has knowledge of various mediums but prefers the play of light between black ink and white surfaces. His drawings can be seen as a record of his life. He depicts the places he has traveled as well as the faces he has seen, including an array of animals. Oilar has a deep admiration for historical wisdom and he honors his family’s lineage by portraying important relatives in his work, such as Thomas Lincoln, the father of President Abraham Lincoln.
Oilar’s artworks have been exhibited at the Indiana State Museum, the 2000 Annual Hoosier Salon Exhibition and the 2011 IUPUI National Sports Art Museum Invitational Exhibit that led up to the Super Bowl celebration. He was also the Indiana State Fair Professional Gallery Coordinator from 2002 to 2011. He has been included in several national publications, such as the “Men of Achievement of Who’s Who in the Midwest,” “New Art International” and “Direct Art Magazine.”
To learn more about Oilar’s work or to contact him for a personalized commissioned artwork, visit his Facebook page at @ArtistJohnOilar or call his office at 765-362-3436 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondaythrough Saturday. You may also approach him at his booth space during one of the many local festivals that take place each year.
For more information about CDPL’s hours of operation, visit http://www.cdpl.lib.in.us. If you are an artist or a member of an artists’ group and are interested in displaying your work at the Mary Bishop Memorial Gallery in 2023, contact the gallery coordinator at 765-362-2242 for more details.
