New Jersey's MCCC Gallery Exhibit Features Illustrator Roger Hane, Now thru 10/4

Fans of the "Mad Men" era of advertising will be delighted to see the work of the late Roger Hane, the renowned illustrator, in "Roger Hane and The Big Idea" coming to Mercer County Community College's Gallery today, Sept. 5 through Thursday, Oct. 4. The Gallery is located on the second floor of the college's Communication Building on the West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. All events are free and open to the public.

An opening reception and walk-through with Hane biographer Robert C. Hunsicker is set for Saturday, Sept. 15, from 12:30 - 3 p.m. He will share insights and behind-the-scenes stories about Hane's work. Hunsicker will return to The Gallery to present a slide lecture on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. A personal friend of Hane, Hunsicker is the author of the monograph "Roger Hane: Art, Times & Tragedy," which will be available for sale.

Today Hane is best known for his surrealism-injected cover illustrations for the "Chronicles of Narnia" and Carlos Castaneda's "The Teachings of Don Juan" and "A Separate Reality." In his brief career from 1963-74, Hane published more than 300 editorial and commercial illustrations. As an artist, he was instrumental in helping to revive the use of fantasy and surrealism in American illustration, and helped usher in a period when illustration became as important as text in interpreting an idea.

While attending the Philadelphia Museum School of Art (now University of the Arts), Hane was recognized as having a totally unique visual voice and the artistic craftsmanship and drawing skills necessary to realize his ideas. Spending the last decade of his life working in New York City's illustration market, the artist's life and career ended tragically with his senseless murder over a bicycle. Just two weeks before his death, Hain he had been named Artist of the Year by the New York Artists Guild.

Open hours for the exhibit will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesday evening from 6 - 8 p.m. For further information, call the Gallery at 609-570-3589 or e-mail gallery@mccc.edu. The website is www.mccc.edu/gallery.

Pictured: "Rock Stars" Thought to be Eric Clapton with his painted guitar and friends. Watercolor, pen and ink, ca. 1968, by Roger Hane.