Writer’s Choice: Faculty work on display at art show

“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach,” or so goes the disparaging nugget. If true, the converse is equally snarky. Imagine the flailing about if a “doer” were dropped into a classroom and expected to teach.

The truth of the matter is that some talented folks can do both.

A major, new exhibition showcases the work of faculty, who not only teach but also create their own art. The 2008 Art Department Faculty Exhibition will be held at the Chazen Museum of Art from Saturday, Jan. 26–Sunday, March 30.

This is always a big show, and the 2008 exhibition is large, indeed. The work of 27 current faculty, seven affiliates from related departments and the Tandem Press, and 17 emeritus faculty will fill three temporary exhibition galleries as well as the entire fourth floor of the museum.

Paintings, sculpture, graphics, ceramics, textiles, woodwork, metalwork, glass, prints, photographs, performance, video and computer art are on display.

The department group show gives the public access to work that is created here but is usually exhibited in other national and international exhibits. In addition to being a treat for art lovers, the exhibition shows art students how their professors’ professional works are linked to the creative practice.

To enhance understanding of the works presented, faculty from the department will present 40-minute gallery talks. Most will discuss their own works, but Michael Jay McClure will give an overview of the exhibition, and Elaine Scheer and Emily Auerbach will explore the literary aspects of the art represented. The talks begin in January and run through the show’s closing in late March. All 13 talks begin at 12:30 p.m.; attendees should meet in Paige Court.

The schedule of gallery talks is:

• Jan. 31: T. L. Solien
• Feb. 6: Leslee Nelson
• Feb. 7: Lisa Gralnick
• Feb. 13: Paul Sacaridiz
• Feb. 20: Frances Myers
• Feb. 21: Carol Pylant
• Feb. 27: Michael Jay McClure
• Feb. 28: Diane Sheehan
• March 5: Tom Jones
• March 6: Jack Damer
• March 12: Tom Loeser
• March 13: John Hitchcock
• March 27: Elaine Scheer with Emily Auerbach, Division of Continuing Studies.

The public is also invited to attend a reception for the opening of the show from 6–8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25.

Dennis Miller, professor of graphic design, designed a full-color catalogue of the exhibition, which will be available at the Museum Shop.

Exhibitors are: Derrick L. Buisch, painting and drawing; Laurie Beth Clark, video and performance; Michael Connors, digital printmaking; Kim Cridler, metals; Jack Damer, graphics; Jim A. Escalante, graphics; Steven Feren, glass; Aristotle Georgiades, sculpture; Lisa Gralnick, metals; Stephen Hilyard, video; John Hitchcock, screenprinting; S. Driscoll Hixson, graphic design; Tom Jones, photography; Tom Loeser, wood; Truman Lowe, sculpture; Douglas G. Marschalek, art education; Dennis Miller, graphic design; Nancy Mladenoff, painting and drawing; Frances Myers, video; Leslee Nelson, textiles; Carol S. Pylant, painting; Douglas Rosenberg, video and performance; Paul Sacaridiz, ceramics; Elaine Scheer, mixed media; Gail Simpson, sculpture; T. L. Solien, painting, drawing, printmaking; and Gelsy Verna, painting.

Affiliate exhibitors are: Jennifer Angus, textile design; Julie Ganser, mixed media; Freida High Tesfagiorgis, painting; Diane Sheehan, textiles; Bruce Crownover, printmaking; Andrew Rubin, printmaking; and Jason Ruhl, printmaking.

Emeritus faculty exhibitors are: Bruce Breckenridge, ceramics; Melvin F. Butor, painting and sculpture; Warrington Colescott, painting and printmaking; Fred Fenster, metals; Raymond Gloeckler, painting and woodcut/wood engraving; Robert L. Grilley, painting; Phil Hamilton, graphic design; C. R. Johnson, wood sculpture; Cavelliere Ketchum, photography; Richard Lazzaro, painting; Eleanor Moty, metals and jewelry; Ronald Neperud, painting; Daniel Ramirez, painting and drawing; Kenneth Ray, painting; Don Reitz, ceramics; John Rieben, communication design; and William F. Weege, printmaking.