FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 'ART THAT HURTS/ART THAT MATTERS' TO BE DISCUSSED AT DRAKE MONDAY Artists and educators Antonia Contro and David Henry will discuss "Art that Hurts/Art that Matters" on Monday, Nov. 13, at Drake University. Their presentation, which is free and open to the public, will start at 7:30 p.m. in the Honors Lounge of Medbury Hall, 1317 28th St. Contro and Henry will explore the responsibilities of presenters, artists and educators when it comes to art that raises issues or is deemed controversial. They also will examine the question of what creates controversy in contemporary culture and how that controversy might, in fact, contribute value and alter culture. In addition, they will look at the role of the artist today as well as the value of an educated and open-minded populace. A nationally recognized painter, Contro was associate director of museum education at the Art Institute of Chicago before directing an alternative art school for disadvantaged youth. She is now executive director of Marwen, a non-profit organization that provides free art education as well as college and career planning to more than 2,000 inner-city students in Chicago. Henry is also an artist and head of education at the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design. In addition, he serves as project director for Art ConText, a strategic partnership between the Rhode Island School of Design Museum and the Providence Public Library that brings art and reading programs to communities throughout Rhode Island. He previously worked in the education department of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. "Art that Hurts/Art that Matters" is sponsored by Drake's Cultural Studies Program and the Drake Center for the Humanities. For more information, call (515) 271-2745.