As students visit the current show in the Student Center’s University Gallery, they will be pleasantly surprised to recognize many of the artists’ names as the professors who critique them in class on a daily basis.
The “Annual Faculty Exhibit” will split into two parts, for the first time, due to the growing number of faculty involved with it. Part I opened Feb. 23, and it will run until March 18. Part II will be shown March 23 to April 15.
“It’s really inspiring, because a lot of times when you think of professors, you think they are just here to give you advice on what to do, but then you see their work and you realize they are artists too,” said Grace Marie Bienek, a senior graphic design student at EMU.
All members of the Art Department — faculty and adjunct professors — were invited to participate in the show.
“A total of 24 were invited to participate, but that includes some art historians and art educators who traditionally have not participated,” said Gregory Tom, the gallery director at Eastern Michigan University.
Before joining the faculty at EMU, Tom taught ceramics at Wayne State University, the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and Oakland Community College. He was also the deputy director at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD). He has two ceramic pieces in the faculty show.
“It’s an honor and privilege to show my work next to my co-workers,” Tom said. “To be honest it’s fun for me as an artist to show with people I know.”
The show embraces a diverse variety of media, including ceramic pieces, paintings, photographs, fibers and sculptures.
“The faculty was divided into two groups, with consideration given to ensuring that a balance of wall and floor work, two and three dimensional pieces, and that there was a good representation and diversity from each of the major mediums in the department,” Tom said.
Other works on display include Chris Hyndman’s plaid painting entitled “Border,” Richard Washington’s mixed-media sculptures and Ellen Schwartz’s piece, “Scholarly/Creative Activity.”
“There is a fair amount of enthusiasm for the faculty show,” Tom said. “I think that art students have a strong interest in seeing what their teachers are making as they have significant exposure to them from sharing time in the classroom.”
By displaying their work, students are able to examine the art pieces their professors have created, and faculty are able to see their students’ reactions to their artwork.
“I would hope that students will look at the show and be able to see the range and proficiency that their teachers are capable of,” Tom said. “I would think that students will get some good idea about what to make (or not to make) from seeing their teacher’s work.”
“When you research a famous artist you hope that it will teach you something, and then you look at the show and think, these people are here,” Bienek said.
“Our department has many excellent qualities, but none more important than the quality of our faculty,” said Colin Blakely, the EMU art department head, in his letter in the show catalog. “They are without question our greatest asset, and for me, nothing sets them apart more than the balance they strike in their passion for both teaching and research/creative work.”
“I would hope that students will see this as an opportunity to see if there are professors that they want to study with based on the work that they are showing,” Tom said.
The University Gallery is located on the second floor of the Student Center, and its hours are Monday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
