CHAMPAIGN, Ill. Two new exhibitions open Friday (June 7) at I space, the Chicago gallery of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
"Galaxia Val del Omar," on view through July 5, is the inaugural event of a series of film screenings and conferences on the work of Andalusian surrealist filmmaker and poet José Val del Omar (1904-1982). The program is presented by the Intituto Cervantes of Chicago in cooperation with I space and the Gene Siskel Film Center, and focuses on Val del Omar's experiments in light and sound. The documentary exhibition at I space will feature film and video work by the artist.
An opening reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. at the gallery, 230 W. Superior St., Chicago.
Other program events include:
• June 8, screening of "Ojala Val del Omar," 5 p.m., Hancock Center, Suite 2940, 875 N. Michigan Ave. A discussion will follow with producer Piluca Baquero and author Gonzalo Sáenz Buruaga.
• June 10, screening of "Misiones Pedagógicas," 6 p.m., Instituto Cervantes. A discussion and presentation of the book "Galaxia Val del Omar" will follow.
• June 11, screening and discussion of "Triptico Elemental de España," 8 p.m. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street.
Also opening at I space June 7 and running through June 29 is an exhibition of drawings and models by architecture students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses who are participating in an annual competition sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago.
Created to encourage innovation in residential design, the competition challenges students to design a single-family home and office that accommodates trends and demographics within an urban homebuilding market.
Awards will be given to the top three finalists at a private ceremony June 14 at the gallery.
I space gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.