What: The Institute for the Advancement of the Arts and the College of Visual Arts and Design present Intersections: Collaborative Inquiries in Painting, a showing of works from the UNT graduate painting studio
When: June 13 to July 17; Gallery hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays; Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: UNT on the Square, 109 N. Elm Street, on the square in downtown Denton
Admission: Free
Opening: A meet and greet reception, open to the public, is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. June 14 (Friday). The reception is free.
Contact: For information on the exhibition, visit untonthesquare.unt.edu or call 940-369-8257
______________________________________________________________________
Note: Attached is a photo of the painting “Hardy” by Cassie Phan
DENTON, Texas (UNT) – An exhibition of College of Visual Arts and Design graduate students’ paintings starting June 13 (Thursday) at UNT on the Square offers the community a chance to view high quality individual pieces as well as unique works that stem from a collaboration of the artists.
Professor of Studio Arts Robert Jessup selected the participating artists: Preston Bradley, Trey Egan, Rachel Fischer, Bumin Kim, Hanna Kim, Kai Martin, Shayne Murphy, Cassie Phan, Fari Rahimi, Adam Rowlett, Justin Strickland and Michelle Thomas. Most of the artists are drawing and painting majors, but the show also features two printmaking graduates and one sculpture graduate, noted Cassie Phan, who is an exhibiting artist and helped organize the exhibition.
Each artist has been asked to exhibit his or her individual work, in addition to collaborations with participating artists. The title of the show, Intersections, refers to that collaborative effort, Phan said, and the group hopes to bring to light the commonalities with their works as well as the possibility that the combined efforts of different artists can foster a new experience for both the artists and the viewers.
“The collaborative aspect of the show is unique, and I hope will provide insight into the diverse processes found across the graduate program at UNT,” Phan said. “As some of the work presents painting in a nontraditional light, I think this show can lend to a broader definition of painting within the community.”
The process among the artists has been interesting to watch, too, Phan said. In the collaboration between Kai Martin and Rachel Fischer, a mixed media work on paper that combines drawing and painting, the artists crossed out some elements.
“This seems to bring an interesting twist to the idea of collaboration – in particular in terms of editing,” said Phan, who has been painting for about 10 years.
Phan said that in her own experience with the exhibition, she has learned more about the studio practices of her peers. In addition to her own work, she is exhibiting collaborative pieces with Fischer, Hanna Kim and Michelle Thomas.
“The experience of working with each of these artists has been incredibly rewarding – far more than I ever anticipated,” Phan said. “By responding to the marks made by other painters, and sometimes working simultaneously on the same piece, I have been able to further consider different perspectives and motivations for making work. Group critique seeks to accomplish this, but can only go so far. This process has been an extension of our education in this sense. The whole process has created an energy among many participants that has been great to see.”
About the Institute for the Advancement of the Arts
The University of North Texas Institute for the Advancement of the Arts was launched, along with UNT on the Square, in October 2009. On the occasion of its opening, it was noted that the Institute's goal is to “further the university’s reputation for nurturing artistic and creative expression” by recognizing artistic contributions and sharing them with the public and enhancing the learning environment for UNT students. These aspirations are encompassed in the Institute’s mission, which is to showcase, support and advance excellence in the visual, performing and creative literary arts at UNT, among its faculty members and in conjunction with their renowned colleagues and collaborators. The IAA is an initiative of the offices of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Research and Economic Development. Herbert Holl is the director.