by Kate Luce
For the past four years, the Education and Arts Building’s gallery has hosted the Faculty Exhibition near the beginning of the fall semester, and the tradition returned this year as past and present fine arts and new media faculty members are presenting a diverse array of works.
The exhibition opened on September 14 and is open and free to the public.
Most of the work presented at the show can be described as classical works: paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photography. The viewer interacts with these works emotionally, not physically. However, there are also several professors incorporating technology in their work, as well, and those pieces ask the patron to physically interact with the art. This relationship brings a newmeaning to art, while making it an interactive experience for gallery patrons.
For the artists involved in the show, this annual event allows them to not only be active inteaching but stay active in their own art. It is a way for them to show patrons what kind of work they make when they aren’t leading classes.
“One of the cool things about IU South Bend is that all the faculty works really hard on their art and they work really hard at teaching,” Susan Moore, associate professor of fine arts, says.
The work presented in the faculty show is just as diverse as the art world itself. From classical takes on work to abstract views, the way each professor is inspired to make work is just as different as their student’s work.
“I am inspired by mass produced objects around us. I consider it an extension of pop. I like to consider it conceptual pop art. I am very interested in mass produced images and how they create personal or cultural identity,” Angelo Ray Martinez, adjunct lecturer in fine arts, says.
Some faculty members have work inspired by what they see in modern times, while other a more historical basis for their art. No matter what a professor is interested in, it is interesting to get afeel of their work in person.
“As a printmaker, scroll is the original book form, so I am kind of looking back in the history of printmaking and finding a place for myself in that. The Chinese then folded it into an accordion book, so I am making work in that original content,” William Tourtillotte, lecturer in fine arts,says.
The narrative that each professor has to offer makes this show something a student should make the effort to see.
The faculty show is on display until October 21 in the Art Gallery in the E&A Building. The gallery is open from 12 - 5 pm Monday through Saturday