Western Illinois University hosted the art exhibit, "Rain Clearing, Breezy Overnights," in the Annex Building in conjunction with the Department of Art's "First Wednesday" event in February. The show highlighted Matt Pulford's paintings, photographs, and 3-D pieces.
Gil Belles, who attended the opening reception, said he liked the artwork so much that he was hoping some of it would be for sale.
"Some of these do look like a person's all by themselves on a desert island. This one's really different because it's so black in the background and all the rest have bright backgrounds."
Belles was referring to "Nigh." He said it looks like grass or a reef that's deep underwater.
Many people who saw the show said "pyre" reminded them of the Iwo Jima site where the soldiers put up the flag.
Nichole Rodriguez came to the show with her daughter, Nieves.
Nieves said she thought the artwork was beautiful but she seemed to be most intrigued by the ice piece. She couldn't believe it wasn't melting inside. Rodriguez kept catching her trying to touch the fake ice to see if it was cold.
Kurt Fowler is a Monmouth/Roseville art teacher. He brought some of his students to see Pulfords show.
He said a lot of the artwork in "Rain Clearing, Breezy Overnights" seems to have a narrative to it. That it makes you want to know what happened in these locations with, "The long ribbons flowing in the breeze, with the stacks of stone...those are like Tibetan...little prayer flags and stuff they put up."