NATCHITOCHES – An exhibit, “Faculty in Practice: Explorations in Material, Process, and Form,” is on display through Sept. 4 in the Orville J. Hanchey Gallery, at Northwestern State University. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is free.
A reception and artist talk will take place on Monday, Aug. 24 from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Hanchey Gallery. The event is free and open to the public and will provide visitors with an opportunity to hear directly from participating artists about their work, processes and current research interests.
“Faculty in Practice: Explorations in Material, Process, and Form” is an exhibition featuring the creative work of faculty members and graduate instructors from the Department of Fine and Graphic Arts. The exhibition celebrates the diverse artistic practices, research interests and material explorations that define the department’s vibrant creative community.
Those exhibiting work are professors of art Collier L. Hyams, Matt Deford and Corbin R. Wayne Covher, Associate Professor of Art and Head of the Department of Fine and Graphic Arts Leslie Gruesbeck, assistant professors of art Edgar Cano-López, Sean Callander and Jennifer Robison and graduate instructors Michael Stephenson, Jude McCully, Pete Gorham and Jillian Kerneen. The exhibit is curated by Assistant Professor of Art History and Hanchey Gallery Director Katharine D. Scherff.
Bringing together a wide range of media and approaches, “Faculty in Practice” highlights the ongoing studio investigations of artists working across painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, digital media, design and interdisciplinary practices. The exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the breadth of artistic production occurring within the department and to engage with the creative work of the artists who teach, mentor and inspire Northwestern State students.
The title, “Faculty in Practice,” emphasizes the active role of artistic inquiry in higher education. While faculty members are educators, they are also practicing artists whose work is driven by experimentation, research and sustained engagement with contemporary issues, materials and methods. The exhibition demonstrates the many ways creative practice functions as both scholarship and exploration.
In addition to showcasing faculty work, the exhibition includes contributions from graduate student instructors whose artistic and educational efforts contribute significantly to the department. Their inclusion reflects the department’s commitment to supporting emerging artists and fostering a dynamic culture of creative exchange.
Community members, students, faculty, staff, and visitors are encouraged to attend and experience this celebration of artistic practice and creative scholarship.
For additional information, please contact Scherff at scherffk@nsula.edu.