Gallery

Posted on October 19, 2016October 18, 2016 by Art Department Department, Faculty, Faculty Scholarship and Creative Work, Gallery, Painting, Public Art, Studio Art, Uncategorized, Upcoming Events

Painting professor Lindsey Dunnagan to speak at “#15 for Art” on Thursday, October 20th

New Assistant Professor of Painting, Lindsey Dunnagan, is giving this week’s “#15 for Art” talk. Come to the University Gallery on Thursday October 20th at 4:45 pm. These images may give you a sense of her work, but come and see what she talks about on Thursday afternoon.

Professor Dunnagan has a major art series which just had its first public exhibit this past summer. Her The Journey Home Project was featured at Carneal Simmons Contemporary Art in Dallas, TX, from late July to late August, 2016. She describes the process of creation and the work itself: the-journey-home-project

For the past year, I collected locations from people in North Texas and beyond, including various student groups and a refugee center in Dallas. Now their names and “ideas of home” have been painted onto a large-scale installation that forms a labyrinth.

As visitors walk through the painted translucent walls, they may find a location that holds significance to them while also experiencing other places that are cherished. In this way, the project presents the world as a treasure and a place to discover; it intimates a deep connection we have with each other and the planet.

Lindsey Dunnagan, The Journey Home Project, on display in Dallas, August 2016.

In addition, Lindsey Dunnagan installed a large commissioned work in Fort Worth, TX, at Store #532 of the Kroger Company. Native Treasures is painted and drawn with watercolor, ink, salt, and acrylic on Clear Acrylic. You can see it in Fort Worth at 5241 N Tarrant Parkway.

Native Treasures, 2016, installed in Kroger store #532.

All photographs courtesy of Lindsey Dunnagan.

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Art Department Department, Faculty, Faculty Scholarship and Creative Work, Gallery, News and Events, Uncategorized

“New Works by Truman Faculty” Show to Close This Saturday

The University Art Gallery’s current show “New Works by Truman Faculty,” with artwork by Laura Bigger, Amanda Breitbach, Aaron Fine, and Francine Fox, has its last day on Saturday, October 8th. If you are interested in seeing art from our new faculty or some of the works created by Aaron Fine on his sabbatical, you don’t have much time to take a look.

As a special treat, Laura Bigger will discuss one of her works on Thursday, October 6th, as part of the Art Department’s #forArt series. At 4:45 pm every other Thursday in the University Gallery there is a presentation from a faculty member. A 15 minute talk, between classes on Thursday evening. Come hear Professor Bigger talk about her own work in front of examples of it, as one of the highlights of this week in art.

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Art Department Faculty, Faculty Scholarship and Creative Work, Gallery, Uncategorized, Upcoming Events

Gallery Opening Tuesday September 6th

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Art Department Alumni, Department, Gallery, News and Events, Painting, Studio Art, Uncategorized

Academic Honor Awards in Art

o Benjamin Flowers receives a certificate in recognition of his selection as the Outstanding Student in Art: Studio Art. The award is presented by Sara Orel, Professor of Art History.

Congratulations to the three students, representing three of our major programs, who were selected by the Art faculty to receive recognition as the outstanding members of their senior class. The three students are:

Sadie Pafford, Outstanding Student in Art

Benjamin Flowers, Outstanding Student in Art: Studio Art

Madeline Perel, Outstanding Student in Art: Visual Communication

Dr. Sara Orel represented the Art Department to present the awards to Sadie and Benjamin. Madeline was otherwise occupied, taking part in the BFA: Visual Communication capstone exhibition at the Kirksville Arts Association, for which the final reception was the same evening (the Friday before graduation). We will have pictures from that exhibition soon. In the meantime, here is a photograph from Benjamin Flowers’ senior BFA show. Congratulations to all three students from the Art faculty and from Truman State University. We will miss all of you!

Visitors admire Benjamin Flowers’ BFA exhibition in the University Gallery.

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Art Department Department, Department History, Faculty, Gallery, News and Events, Painting, Printmaking, Studio Art, Uncategorized, Visual Communications

Events You Won’t Want to Miss: Friday, April 29th

Two retirement receptions and one gallery reception. What a way to end the semester and the year! Come join us this Friday to celebrate the end of Bob Jones’ and Jim Jereb’s careers at Truman, and the completion of the BFA degrees of three seniors.

The events start at 2 pm in the Georgian Room in the Student Union. Come and celebrate the contributions of Professor Bob Jones to Truman and the Art Department. The senior member of our department, Bob has taught at Truman since 1979, serving in numerous administrative positions, starting the Visual Communications program, and teaching thousands of students over the decades. Then at 6 pm come to the University Gallery for the reception celebrating the last gallery show of the year.

And a fitting way to end the evening is the retirement reception for our printmaking professor Jim Jereb, who has been at Truman since 1990. In addition to teaching a generation of printmakers, Jim has taught a variety of courses in foundations and the university core. He has mentored many students who were interested in learning about conservation and most recently has helped to prepare an exhibit of posters from the Great War to be displayed in the University Gallery in 2017. Come to the Dukum Inn at 7 pm Friday and celebrate his contributions, his past, and his future.

Posted on January 26, 2016January 26, 2016 by Art Department Department, Faculty, Faculty Scholarship and Creative Work, Gallery, News and Events, Painting, Uncategorized

University Gallery Features New Painting Professor

One of Ricardo Quiñónez Alemán’s paintings on display in the University Gallery.

The University Gallery is welcoming Truman State University’s new painting professor, Ricardo Quiñónez Alemán, by hosting his exhibition Within My Borders.

“I think coming in with an exhibition is great,” said Quiñónez. “It gives the students the opportunity to get to know me as an artist, not just their teacher.”

Before coming to Truman, Quiñónez spent two years conducting observational research at the southern U.S. border dividing El Paso, Texas, from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Quiñónez is from Ciudad Juárez, and wanted to go back to his roots after spending many years living and teaching in the Midwest. He spent this time at the border researching the conflicts people face at the line dividing the two nations.

“It is a study of the problematic social events that happen on the south borders relating to politics, immigration, and religion,” said Quiñónez about Within My Borders.

Quiñónez uses painting as his mode of storytelling. He said he uses a process of underpainting and glazing from the 16th and 17th centuries. He calls his work a constant experimentation and makes modifications by applying new techniques in background lighting, layering, paint thickness, and sizing. Quiñónez loves working with a paintbrush has been inspired by many artists over the years.

“Some of my inspirations include Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Frida Kahlo, and many more,” said Quiñónez. “It is possible to see other people’s influences in my work because I admire many artists.”

Within My Borders will be on display in the main gallery from January 21 to February 26. An opening reception with refreshments will be held in the University Gallery on Tuesday, January 26, at 6:00 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public.

(This post was written by University Gallery Public Relations intern Anna Lang)

Posted on January 18, 2016January 10, 2016 by Art Department Alumni, Art History, Department, Faculty, Gallery, Uncategorized

Heidi Cook (B.A. ’07) serves as Director of the University Art Gallery for 2015-2016

While Professor of Art Aaron Fine is on sabbatical this year, researching and writing about color theory, 2007 Truman graduate Professor Heidi Cook is filling in as Visiting Director of the University Art Gallery and teaching Art History courses as well – Non-Western Art, Contemporary Art, and Introduction to the Visual Arts. She writes:

I am a Truman alumna (German and Art History, ’07) and I am truly excited to be back on campus and working alongside the Art Historians who introduced me to the history of art and made me want to pursue it further. Teaching Art History is one of the coolest jobs. I get to spend my time reading, thinking, and talking about how artworks visualize important and changing social, historical and religious ideas across the globe and throughout history. My hope is always that I can begin to open students’ eyes to the power of their visual surroundings.

I am currently a PhD candidate (All But Dissertation) in the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh. My research focuses on the modern art and design of Central and Eastern Europe. Using a body of folkloric works created by Croatian-American artist Maksimilijan Vanka as a guiding thread, my dissertation explores how objects and images related to Croatian folk culture were used to imagine a variety of competing Central European identities. In February, I am chairing a panel at the College Art Association Conference in Washington, D.C., about the relationship between European folk culture and American immigrant identity titled “Old Country in the New Country: Exhibitions, Museums, and Early Twentieth-Century American Immigration.”

If you ever want to talk about modern art in Central Europe or about applying or attending graduate school, feel free to stop by my office OP 1231 or email me at hcook@truman.edu.

We are very pleased to have Prof. Cook on campus this year, and know that students in her classes are benefiting from her knowledge and enthusiasm.

Prof. Heidi Cook, her husband Brent, and Pumpkin, in Kumrovec, Croatia in front of the house where Yugoslavian dictator Josip Broz Tito was born.

Posted on December 6, 2015December 1, 2015 by Art Department Ceramics, Department, Gallery, News and Events, Studio Art

Visiting Artist Demonstrates Methods

Chandra DeBuse, a Kansas City area artist whose work was on display in the Truman State University Gallery for the month of November, gave a workshop and lecture for Truman ceramics students (and other members of the art department) during a visit on November 9th. During the workshop she demonstrated her “drop mold” system of making pots and sculptures and had students contribute to one sculpture of a cactus that she demonstrated on. During these demonstrations, and then later during her lecture, she talked about her journey to becoming a studio artist, including her previous career as a psychologist, her education as a potter, her residency experiences, and the inspiration for and meaning of her work.

Chandra DeBuse in the Ceramics Studio at Truman, November 9th, 2015.

Posted on November 28, 2015December 1, 2015 by Art Department Department, Gallery, Painting, Studio Art, Uncategorized

Art Exhibits and Receptions This Week

The last week of classes is always busy, but it is good to get out and enjoy looking at some art. Fortunately, there are lots of opportunities this time of year.

One of the pieces from Darrell Williams’ BFA exhibition, up in the gallery from November 30th to December 4th.

Darrell Williams’ B.F.A. thesis show will take place in the gallery November 30 to December 4. His show includes six large (4 x 6 foot) works painted in acrylic using airbrush. Each presents an interpretation of a specific verse of the Bible dealing with the subject of spiritual warfare. Please join us for a reception Tuesday evening December 1 at 6:00 pm.

Accompanying this BFA show, the “Strong Foundation” show in the side gallery will present faculty selections from this fall’s art student proficiency examinations.

Elsewhere on campus. students from the Visual Communications 4 class are exhibiting in the SUB Activities Room from Wednesday night, December 2nd, to Thursday night, December 3rd. The exhibit also will have a reception, on Thursday, December 3rd, at 7pm.

The Visual Communications 4 class has been looking how Truman State University has been branded and deciding how they as students think it could be enhanced. Each student was given a department at random to design for as well. The results of their work will be on display at the SUB this week.

All these exhibits will highlight student work and give you a chance to talk with the artists. Please come out and enjoy the art on campus.

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Art History faculty Alumni, Ceramics, Department, Fibers, Gallery, News and Events, Photography, Sculpture, Studio Art, Upcoming Events, Website

Gallery Opening Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.!

Please join us on Tuesday, October 20 at 6:00 p.m.for an opening reception in the University Art Gallery (OP 1114). There will be refreshments, and photographer Dana Fritz will be in attendance.

We have three new exhibitions that will run simultaneously until November 20, 2015:

Dana Fritz: Shaping Nature

photography – in the main gallery

Shaping Nature includes two series by photographer Dana Fritz, Terraria Gigantica and Garden Views, in which the artist uses photography to investigate the ways in which humans display, represent, and shape nature in constructed and enclosed landscapes.

Anna Youngyeun: I feel funny, but I like it

drawings and fibers – in the cube

Truman alumna Anna Youngyeun’s exhibition I feel funny, but I like it includes drawings and fiber arts installations that use humor, play, and tactility to address issues of bodily and racial shame.

Chandra DeBuse: Fair Shares

ceramics – in the side gallery

In her show Fair Shares, Kansas City-based ceramicist Chandra DeBuse enlivens functional pottery with whimsical narratives.

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