Dominican University to Host Art Exhibit of Renowned Local Artist's Drawings

A Former Oak Park resident will get an in-depth exhibit of his work at Dominican University this month.

Franklin McMahon first contributed drawing to Fenwick High School's student newspaper. As a B-17 navigator in World War II, McMahon was shot down over Germany and spend the last few months of the war in a prison camp. At the camp, he would draw his guards when paper was available.

Upon returning from the war, McMahon used funds from the GI Bill to attend school at the Institute of Design in Chicago and enrolled in night classes at the American Academy of Art and the School of the Art Institute.

McMahon would go on to document some of the world's most significant events for publications like the Chicago Tribune Magazine, Life magazine, Look magazine and Jubilee. He has been highly recognized for his art and journalism.

One of his most famous pieces is credited with being inspirational in sparking the Civil Rights movement. In 1955, McMahon was sent to cover the Emmett Till Murder Trial for Life. His work would appear as a center spread and depicted Till's uncle rising to his feet and pointing out the men who dragged him from his home in the middle of the night.

His exhibit at Dominican University will feature 40 drawings at the auditorium of the Priory Campus, located at 7200 Division St., in River Forest.

The exhibit will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20 and from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21.

The exhibit will run in conjunction with the Siena Center's Celebrating Vatican II lecture series on the campus. The works by McMahon largely focus on the papacy of Pope John Paul II and the Second Vatican Council.

McMahon was in Rome for the opening day of the Second Vatican Council and documented his experience there from 1962-1965. From his work in Rome, McMahon produced a book,  This Church, These Times: The Roman Catholic Church since Vatican II and the award-winning film documentary, The World of Vatican II, An Artist’s Report.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Claire Noonan, director of the Siena Center at 708-714-9107.