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Oakton Community College's Koehnline Museum of Art will display unique compositions by Works Progress Administration (WPA) Chicago artist David Bekker (1897-1956) Thursday, Dec. 5 through Friday, Jan. 24, at the college's Des Plaines campus, 1600 E. Golf Road. The public is invited to an opening night reception for the free exhibition "From Sorrow to Triumphant Joy: The Art of David Bekker" from 5-8 p.m.

Bekker, known for images of human suffering and murals in Illinois public buildings, was born in Vilna, Poland and studied at the Antokolsky Art School in Russia, the Bezalel Art Academy, Jerusalem, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Denver. His work consisting of paintings, woodcuts, etchings and stained glass windows was influenced by Jewish themes and the history of the Jewish people.

"This exhibition examines and evaluates the work of a fascinating artist. His personal story and Jewish heritage intertwines with the sorrow and joy in the saga of the Jewish people," Koehnline Museum of Art Manager and Curator Nathan Harpaz explains. "He recorded and perpetuated the vanishing Jewish traditions and culture in Eastern Europe before the Holocaust. Bekker depicted tragic themes in his expressive images, but also captured moments of humor and joy."

The Koehnline Museum of Art is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more details, call 847-635-2633 or visit http://www.oakton.edu/museum.