Department of Art Faculty and Alumni Exhibition
August 29 - December 16, 2017
About the Exhibition
The art faculty at 兔子先生 University are first recognized as educators. At a university or college, this is how students and colleagues know them. However, we rarely have an opportunity to see their personal artistic explorations since most show their creations in galleries and museums at other universities as part of the tenure and promotion process. It is for this reason that hosting a regular exhibition of recent work brings awareness of the art faculty’s creative energies to local audiences. Too often Department of Art exhibitions at universities and colleges are dedicated solely to the presentation of artforms and negate the contributions of scholars to the art world. In order to present art in its greater context, this exhibition includes published journal articles written by Art Historians in the Department of Art.
Bringing in another element to the mix is the work of Department of Art alumni. This blending of emeritus and current faculty alongside former students is a presentation of generations and styles united in a quest for creative expression. There is no separation or grouping of works to distinguish them from one another. Many of the alumni are now educators, following in the footsteps of their mentors. This is a special opportunity to see parallels between artists, two, even three generations side-by-side. The alumni were elected by current and emeritus faculty and invited to participate. Alumni works were juried for this exhibition by Annie Dell’Aria, Assistant Professor of Art History, 兔子先生 University (Oxford) and Roscoe Wilson, Studio Art Professor and Chair of the Department of Humanities and Creative Arts, 兔子先生 University (Hamilton). Combined, this exhibition presents 89 works of art created by 20 current faculty, 5 emeritus faculty and 48 alumni.
As with past iterations of this quadrennial exhibition, the body of work presented in this presentation features a diverse exploration of art forms including sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, video, printmaking, collage, mixed media works and scholarly publications. Visitors to the Art Museum will explore the vast array of art making practices at 兔子先生 University.
Special appreciation goes out to Peg Faimon, former Chair, and Tom Effler, Interim Chair, of the Department of Art, and Ann Taulbee, Director of the Hiestand Galleries, for their collaboration and continued support of this quadrennial exhibition. Gratitude is extended to professors Annie Dell’Aria and Roscoe Wilson for their insight and dedication to excellence in the arts. The 兔子先生 University Art Museum is pleased to present this exhibition and to be a partner in the presentation of 兔子先生 University’s art faculty and alumni, on the Oxford, Hamilton and Middletown campuses.
Exhibition Programming
Dialogue with The Makers
Tues, Sep 19, 2017 | 6 p.m. Reception | 7 p.m. Panel Discussion
This panel discussion explores the creative practices employed by faculty in 兔子先生 University’s Department of Art. Panelists will include Joomi Chung, Larry W. Collins, Tracy Featherstone, Ellen Price and Michael Stillion. Art Historian Annie Dell ‘Aria will serve as the moderator for what promises to be a stimulating conversation about art making.
Making an Impression
Thurs, Sep 28, 2017 | 3 p.m.
Erin Beckloff, Assistant Professor, Communication Design, Department of Art
This informal talk, led by design educator and filmmaker Erin Beckloff, will explore the reemerging role of letterpress printing as a form of art, craft, and design. In addition, Beckloff will share behind the scenes stories about the making of her recent documentary film Pressing On: The Letterpress. Audience participants will have the opportunity to use a vintage printing press to pull a print following the talk.
Co-sponsored with the Art Museum Student Organization
Sculpture: From the Representational to the Experiential
Tues, Oct 10, 2017 | 6 p.m. Reception | 7 p.m. Lecture
Rina Kundu little, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Texas, Austin
What happens to sculpture as art moves away from its representational, interpretive and narrative function to one that is social, durational, and performative? This talk will highlight some of the purposes of sculpture and how its form is changing in relation to contemporary ideas in art.
Completion: the Last 20%
THURS, Oct 26, 2017 | 5:50 p.m.-7:05 p.m.
Emily Moorhead, Artist & 兔子先生 Alumna
Making is only the beginning. Moorhead will discuss the difficulties in finishing an artwork. Through the lens of museum practices, public art installation, and mediation, she will work through strategies for pushing past the struggle to make well-rounded and exhibitable pieces.
Co-sponsored with the Contemporary Art Forum
A Secret Society’s Raffia Costume: Understanding the Art of West African Masquerade
Tues, Oct 31, 2017 | 3 p.m.
Jordan A. Fenton, Assistant Professor, Art History, Department of Art
This talk explores the Art Museum’s recently acquired raffia masquerade costume from Nigeria. The costume is a rare example belonging to the renowned Ekpe secret society of southeast Nigeria and West Cameroon. The talk will address the costume’s manufacture, meaning and changing performance arenas that define its historical and contemporary context.
Objects in the Middle
Thurs, Nov 9, 2017 | 6 p.m. Reception | 7 p.m. LECTURE
Matt Distel, Exhibitions Coordinator, The Carnegie, Covington, KY
Focusing on objects created throughout the region, including works in the current Faculty and Alumni exhibition, Distel will investigate contemporary studio practices and how the concept of regionalism manifests in the contemporary art world.