Now through March 27, the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery at Keene State College will be showing its Biennial Art Faculty Exhibition. According to the Chair of the Art Department Professor Lynn Richardson, who is also a contributing artist to this exhibit, the show occurs once every two years and consists of the work of both full and part time faculty from the Art Department at KSC.
Gallery Monitor and KSC junior Heather Wittmer noted that the exhibit’s popularity among KSC students seems to derive from an interest in observing the work done by faculty.
“It’s appealing for students because they know the faculty, you know?” Wittmer said.
Wittmer explained that various art majors have stopped by to see their professor’s work.
She said it’s an exciting exhibit for people involved in the art program.
“It’s not like they’re just reading a name out of an art book and looking at a picture in a textbook. I think it’s because they literally have either seen the artist in person or know them or have taken a class with them. I also think it’s just intriguing to students and it pushes them to go and see the art done by professors,” Wittmer said.
According to Richardson, the benefit of attending The Biennial Art Faculty Exhibition is having the opportunity for students to see what their faculty do.
“We are constantly showing students’ images of artists work but it is a very, very different experience when you can see the work in person. It also engages the students in a professional dialogue with their instructors,” Richardson said.
Richardson said the faculty are as excited about the show as the students.
Richardson continued, “Additionally, the faculty show has always been an opportunity for Art Faculty that have been on sabbatical to share with the broader campus community the new body of work they have developed over a significant period of time.”
Richardson said that this exhibit not only gives students the ability to view the faculty’s work, but it also gives students the opportunity to learn more about the new mediums being utilized in the art community today.
Richardson’s own piece, entitled “Planted Pavilion,” was a large installation work that was created last summer in Milan, Italy, for Expo 2015, or the World’s Fair. According to Richardson, the piece was constructed by using castable plastic material and steel tubing.
“I think this exhibition highlights the diverse mediums our faculty work in. There is a broad range of work including printmaking, sculpture, painting and ceramics,” Richardson said.
Richardson continued, “Additionally, Miles Warner has Performance Art videos playing on the local television network. In this digital era it is advantageous for students to be creative. And although many of us are using new technologies to develop or craft, we will still continue to express ourselves through these physical objects.”
Although she is not an art major, Wittmer claimed that this exhibit is extremely eye opening for all visitors because being able to see what people in the KSC community are doing is a unique experience.
Exhibit visitor Tess Kiritsy agreed with Wittmer’s claim in that this exhibit is interesting and entertaining despite viewers’ level of involvement with the arts.
“Although I am no longer a student here at KSC, I heard about this exhibit from the website and just thought it was a really interesting concept,” Kiritsy said.
Kiritsy continued, “Being able to see work that people who are apart of my community have created is such a cool thing because there are very few places and very few opportunities that you are able to view relatively local artists work. This exhibit can definitely be appreciated by all eyes – not just those who study art.”
Amanda Lashua can be contacted at alashua@kscequinox.com
