Henk Pander: ‘Blasted Allegories’ to open March 2 at Cressman

An exhibit of large-scale paintings by Henk Pander will open at the University of Louisville’s Cressman Center for Visual Arts, 100 E. Main St., March 2. The opening reception will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in conjunction with the First Friday Trolley Hop. February 22, 2012

“Blasted Allegories” is a visual exploration of America through the investigative lens of the Dutch-born, Oregon resident.

Using a technique based in realist tradition, Pander’s most recent work closely examines contemporary American culture through the depiction of scenes filled with drama, death and decay. Whether it’s an image of an industrial wasteland, a city engulfed in fire, or men held at gunpoint, Pander shows the viewer his vision of dystopian America.

Pander was born shortly before World War II during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. He studied at the State Academy of Fine Arts in the Netherlands and then moved to Portland, Ore., as a young man and made a career as an artist.

“Blasted Allegories” will run through March 31. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; and First Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. All Cressman Center events are free and open to the public.