Contemporary Art Center Press Release:
Amalgamation II: A Collaborative Exhibition
March 6 - April 24 Side View Gallery
Although they each gravitate toward a particular media, Doug Goessman and Erin Robert could
easily be described as mixed media artists. Doug often combines silkscreen with painting and
Erin does the same with collage and painting. To view their individual work you might think they
are as different as night and day: Doug with his bold colors and pop imagery; Erin with her muted
palette and nostalgic imagery. Yet, there is an underlying current that creates a natural
connection for the artists, namely the abstract expressionism and pop art influences evident in
their work. What allows their seemingly disparate styles of work to amalgamate is that the
essence of what they interested in: transforming imagery from its original purpose and
establishing a mood or tone.
Doug Goessman and Erin Robert first joined their efforts for a collaborative exhibition entitled,
“Amalgamation”, that was held at Town Gallery & Framing in Chillicothe, Illinois in 2007. The
Contemporary Art Center hosts their 2nd collaborative exhibit.
A native of Chicago, Doug Goessman attended Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL
receiving a degree in Fine Art with an emphasis in Printmaking. At WIU, he was fortunate to have
studied under some influential artists, most notably to him, Fred Jones. Jones, an internationally
recognized landscape artist had a profound effect on Doug, “He did not just teach me art, lot’s of
people teach art, most importantly he taught me how to be an artist. It was not important what I
did, what mattered was that I did it correctly.” Other than the direct influences, Doug credits
artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol as his greatest influences.
“They were just a product of my environment, as a child I could relate to their work as I was
seeing this type of stuff everyday on the streets, it is all about color and simplicity." Since 2004,
Doug has maintained his studio at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria and currently resides in
Pekin, Illinois. While being a full-time art teacher at Richwoods High School in Peoria, Doug also
does freelance design while still maintaining a full-time art career.
Something of a ‘rambling rose’, Erin Robert is a native to Iowa, but grew up in Delaware where
she studied Illustration at the Delaware College of Art and Design. Erin has often switched back
and forth between painting and collage or some combination of the two. Regardless of the
application of medium, the theme of bringing new life to things forgotten or disregarded is the
thread linking her works together. Nostalgia is an important theme in Erin’s work. “I believe that
moving so often as a child left me with a natural longing and wonder for what those places I left
may have held had we stayed.” Between visits to the east coast where her immediate family still
resides, she spends much of her free time renovating her house in Peoria, built in 1930, which
she shares with two cats and works full-time as the Education Coordinator for The Peoria Art
Guild.
The opening progressive reception on Friday, March 6, 8-10pm will also honor the artists
exhibiting in the 32nd Bradley International Print and Drawing Exhibition in the Preston Jackson
Gallery and Maryruth Ginn in Gallery 3R. Food & drink will be provided. Admission is free but a
donation is requested.
Individual Hi-Res images of the artist’s work are available.
This Program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
309-674-6822
William Butler, Executive Director
Contemporary Art Center of Peoria
artcentr@mtco.com
www.peoriacac.org