The James Wegner Art Gallery opens its 2008-09 season with “Labyrinth,” a show of recent drawings and paintings by Riverland art instructor Tim Jones.

Jones completed the works on a sabbatical during the last academic year. The show is on display now through Friday, Oct. 10, 2008. There will be a closing reception in the gallery on Thursday, Oct. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

According to Jones, the paintings and drawings in this show attempt to expressively explore the human condition. Elemental landscapes interweave with starkly skeletal architecture, inhabited by figures whose silhouettes have been drawn from the pages of mass media advertising. An odd sense of foreboding interacts with somewhat humorous arrangements as the figures contemplate display window and their contents, stand in line, and participate in other everyday activities. Unusual combinations, textures and patterns complicate the sense of familiarity with these scenes.

Jones received his master of fine arts in painting from the University of Minnesota.  Previous teaching positions were at Normandale, Anoka-Ramsey and North Hennepin Community Colleges, as well as the University of Minnesota and the College of Visual Arts.

His work has been shown locally, regionally and nationally. Jones has also received the Jerome Foundation Fellowship. He has been an instructor at Riverland since 2002.

The Riverland James Wegner Art Gallery features a diverse mix of student, community and professional artist work, traveling shows and the like.

It is located on the Austin Campus in the West Building. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.