The University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is pleased to present “In the Shadow,” an installation of ceramic works by Decatur-based artist Jennifer Holt. The exhibition will open on Monday, March 6, and run through Thursday, April 13. A reception will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the gallery.

Holt’s mixed media sculpture and installation art revolves around concepts of time, place and memory. By exploiting the fragility and translucency of porcelain, she employs the process of mold casting in metaphorical terms. Using molds to create a memory of an object, Holt captures traces of the object’s use and history. Her work explores the fine line between reality and memory.

“When experiencing a memory, we focus our energy and are transported to another place for a brief moment in time,” Holt said.

Her casted objects offer a visual metaphor for the phenomena of time and memory when combined with temporal situations. This encourages viewers to be mindful of their own physical placement in space and time, suggesting that we exist only in our memories. Holt’s work communicates the preciousness of time and offers insight into the shared human experience.

Holt received her bachelor of fine arts degree in sculpture from Ohio University and her master of fine arts degree in ceramics from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She currently resides in central Illinois, where she is a practicing artist and an assistant professor of art at Millikin University, teaching ceramics and sculpture. Her work has been exhibited in numerous national and international exhibitions and publications, including The NCECA Clay National Biennial in Louisville, Kentucky; ICMEA Emerging Artist Competition at the FuLe International Art Museums in Fuping, China; Ceramics Monthly magazine and Dao Clayform magazine. She has also participated in national and international residencies, including Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle, Maine and FuLe International Ceramic Art Museums in Fuping, China.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

The UIS Visual Arts Gallery is centrally located on the UIS campus in the Health and Science Building, room 201. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

For more information on exhibition programming, please visit the UIS Visual Arts Gallery website.