Sawhill Gallery to display faculty art, articles in exhibition

The Sawhill Gallery will give audiences an opportunity to see a different side of JMU art and art history faculty when their art is showcased at the annual JMU Art Faculty Exhibition. To take a gander at the artwork in the gallery, visit Duke Hall, room 10l.

The exhibit will feature original artwork, as well as scholarly articles produced by the faculty. Photography, painting, metal, fibers and non-traditional forms of art are included in the exhibition.

"It’s really interesting to see the faculty work," junior art major Kristen Blanco said. "I’ve been to the exhibit the past two years. It’s nice to be able to see your professors’ work instead of just having them critique your work all the time."

The opening reception for the exhibition will be held Monday, Nov. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. The show is an informal event with refreshments provided.

"The reception is a great opportunity to see artwork and meet the faculty members who created it. The atmosphere is invigorating," Stuart Downs, director of the Sawhill Gallery, said.

The exhibit will continue Nov. 9 to 23, and Nov. 29 to Dec. 5. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

"It is a rare opportunity for students to see what their professors do, not just in the art department, but across campus," said Mark Rooker, a metals and jewelry professor in the art and art history department. "This is a great opportunity for us to show our students that we make art as our research."

Rooker is submitting a set of science fiction- themed cufflinks and shirt studs he was commissioned to create for a philharmonic violinist in Boston.

The Sawhill Gallery serves the school of art and art history, the university community and the regional community — a wide variety of exhibits each year appeals to the broad interests of their audience and the art faculty exhibit is always one of the eight to 10 exhibits shown each year. Many professors across campus also integrate gallery visits into their curriculum — some offer extra credit, others require visits to art galleries.

"A show like this is a great channel for diversity in contemporary art," Downs said. "This is a chance to see work that can affirm your idea of what art is, but also extend your horizons because there will be such a variety with something for everyone."