The Marshall University School of Art and Design will open two exhibitions in the upcoming weeks — Heirloom, featuring the works of artists from throughout the country, and a photography and textiles exhibition, Bloody Soil, by New York artist Linda Smith.
Heirloom will open Monday, Aug. 22, and be on display through Friday, Sept. 16, in the Charles W. and Norma C. Carroll Gallery, located in the Visual Arts Center at 927 Third Ave. in downtown Huntington. Curated by the School of Art and Design Gallery Committee, the exhibition features artwork by seven artists based in locations from Nebraska to New York, and as far south as Florida, all who have created art that engages aspects of their lived environment.
“Visitors to the gallery will find stories of inheritance shared,” said Gallery Director Jamie Platt. “This show features seven idiosyncratic takes on the environment. If you think you’ve heard it all already — you haven’t. The work is wonderfully diverse in material and content, by turns serious and irreverent.”
The artists include Rachel B. Abrams, Sarah Gevurtz, Keith Buswell, Ahmed Ozsever, Tai Lipan, Jennifer Printz and John Swartwout. Art pieces include drawings, collages, sculptures, prints and photography. The artists bridge art and science, environmental policy and more.
“Many of these artists find metaphors in nature that describe human experiences,” Platt said.
The public is invited to an artist talk and closing reception on Thursday, Sept.15. Ozsever will talk about his work at 5:30 p.m. in Room 209 of the Visual Arts Center. Immediately after the talk, guests can join him in the Carroll Gallery for a reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Carroll Gallery is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The second exhibition is Bloody Soil, on view Monday, Aug. 22, to Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the Birke Art Gallery in Smith Hall on Marshall’s Huntington campus. Bloody Soil is a solo show of artworks by New York artist Linda Smith.
Smith’s work combines photography and textiles. She has photographed landscapes that have experienced trauma and has created a body of work that explores memory, loss and regeneration, in hopes that viewers of the pieces can explore their own histories through the art. The materials she uses carry memories, and are employed to weave remembrance, empathy and renewal into her storytelling process, Platt said.
“Smith embeds embroidery hoops into many of her works, literally putting a frame around sites of trauma,” Platt said.
The public is invited to a closing reception and artist talk on from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14. Smith will give a talk about her work at 5:30 p.m. and will be on hand to answer questions.
All School of Art and Design events are free and open to the public. For gallery hours and more information, visit https://www.marshall.edu/art-galleries/ or call the School of Art and Design at 304-696-7299. Groups wanting to see the exhibition during hours when the gallery is closed may schedule an appointment by e-mailing galleries@marshall.edu
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all events are subject to change and visitors should call the School of Art and Design or check the website for up-to-date information. Masks are recommended but not required in the galleries.