North Dakota’s Artist Gallery Association has chosen Williston State College’s Art instructor, Lino Azevedo, for a series of solo art exhibitions to take place around the state from 2019 through 2020.

Azevedo has found time in between teaching classes at WSC to book a series of solo art expos of his own paintings. Over the coming year, Azevedo will continue working on his show, titled “Lobotomy.”

In his statement, Azevedo tells of how the idea came to him. “After only a couple of months of watching cable news and reality TV shows, I am mortified…that we do not dive deep into real political and social issues that are facing our society,” Azevedo vexes. “We have access to all the great libraries in the world and yet, our (airwaves) are filled with shows like, ‘Southern Charm’ and ‘Ice Road Truckers’?…I am compelled to hold a mirror up to our society to show how we have lobotomized ourselves…Turn off cable TV. Put the smart phone down. Engage. Think. And, by all means, revisit real conversations with fellow citizens. Connect.”

Azevedo aims to feature 25 different pieces in his shows. “I have done many group shows, but I have never hosted my own art expo before! I was extremely excited to find that I was chosen this year.”

When asked about his creative process, Azevedo answers “My creative process involves taking notes, sketching out ideas and researching current events. When I come up with a near finished image to work from, I then transfer it onto a larger surface, and begin painting. I usually come up with my own specific subject, but I have done social commentary as a genre for 20 years now.”

A commentary on our culture’s lack of “critical thinking and civil discourse,” “Lobotomy” will tour cities around North Dakota throughout 2019 and into 2020. Listed below are the currently scheduled dates:

Feb. 7, 2019 to March 16, 2019: Jamestown Art Center

April 1, 2019 to April 30, 2019: Northwest Art Center at Minot State University

Sept. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2019: James Memorial Art Center in Williston

Oct. 15, 2019 to Nov. 15, 2019: Taube Museum of Art in Minot

Jan. 1, 2020 to Feb. 15, 2020: Bismarck State College

For more information on WSC visit www.willistonstate.edu, call 1-888-863-9455, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston.