For English 103 Visual Rhetoric assignment.
Some of the oldest evidence of human culture exists as paintings in caves. Paintings, sculpture, and architecture serve as wordless storytellers of a society’s story. Most major urban areas are scattered with art museums. Because the visual arts have been a steady and solid part of cultures around the world in the past and the present, it is important that they be a part of university culture. Often times, college is where people are finally given the chance to pursue the interests of their choice, and the visual arts should always be an option. At Clemson University, Lee Gallery contributes to university culture by showcasing visual art.
The current exhibition at Lee Gallery is a collection of work done by the Art department faculty. Featuring more than ten faculty artists, the exhibit houses a variety of works
done in an assortment of mediums. The works include paintings, photos, sculpture, ceramics, and digital pieces. The exhibit has been there since September 24th and will be in place until November 2nd.
Each teacher/artist addresses some idea, asks some question, or develops some theme in their works. The only common theme among all the pieces in the exhibition, however, is that the artists teach here at Clemson. Every artist is addressing something different and making their own unique point with the images they produce. One example is Anderson Wrangle’s centerpiece from his exhibition Forest Interrupted. Of the piece, he says: “The images of the tennis players and spectators, and the images of the colored smoke in the landscape are interruptions in the real site, and in their representation.” Other works include Sue Grier’s and Mike Vatalaro’s ceramic stoneware and David Donar’s animations. Todd McDonald’s paintings were hard to miss. In his discussion of his works, McDonald speaks of structure and the lack thereof: “I find it strangely compelling that a grand oak tree, in its quiet state of seeming permanence, might occupy a similar volume as that of a violent explosion. Many of my images find ambiguous locations that could exist somewhere between tree, building, or explosion.” My personal favorite set of works was Christina Nguyen Hung’s photographs. They featured Petri dishes with images made of bacteria growth in the nutrient agar. The creative use of such an unexpected medium adds another dimension to the work.
Settings like Lee Gallery and exhibits like the Department of Art Faculty Exhibition contribute in a positive way to university culture. As previously stated, visual art is a part of almost every culture in society. Groups of people, whether they are large or small, can be identified by their art. Clemson University is a community, and the thoughts and ideas of the people here can be expressed through visual art.
It is in this way that students and faculty can share ideas. The ability to communicate and share ideas is a significant part of culture – especially one at a university like Clemson. It allows for everyone to benefit from the education and experiences of one individual. The faculty exhibit at Lee particularly serves to this idea, as it allows for the faculty to share ideas with each other and for students to learn more about their teachers as fellow artists. Because every artists is addressing their own questions or portraying their own observations about the world around them, each artist and student can use others’ art to add to ask their own question and develop their own artistic works. This collaboration and sharing of ideas enhances the educational experience for all those involved, especially students in the College of Art and Architecture.
Lee Gallery’s contributions to the culture at Clemson University are not limited to provoking discussion and education within the university, but also to connecting with ideas that originate outside the university. Part of developing a mature and well-rounded university culture is investigating and analyzing input from other parts of society. Lee Gallery has brought in ideas from other parts of society both in spirit and in physical reality.
The members of the Art department’s faculty have been educated in various locations and visited many different places. Despite the fact that they are all here at Clemson now, they all have a different story to tell. It is in this way that Lee Gallery is bringing in influences from outside cultures. Faculty members have received degrees from institutions such as Carnegie Mellon, Arizona State, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, California Institute of the Arts, University of the South, and the Memphis College of Art and Design. Each of these places
instilled different ideas in the artists it educated, and all of those ideas are at Clemson now in a visual form.
Art galleries, like the Lee Gallery, also attract and host exhibitions from other locations. For example, in 2004, printmakers from Ohio visited and put on a demonstration for faculty and students. Papermakers from a studio in New York showcased an exhibition in fall of 2004. Also, an exhibit about religion and the Carolinas was on view in fall of 2006. These are just a few examples of some of the shows that have been hosted at the Lee Gallery. Art students and faculty can learn more and develop their work further if they are exposed to the developments in visual art outside of Clemson. Non-art majors can also benefit from visiting exhibitions at Lee Gallery. The outside exhibitions represent the ideas of the people and area from which they originate. All types of students can benefit from learning about these other perspectives.
The presence of culture in a college community results in the broadening of horizons and the development of taste. Visual art is an integral part any culture and should be a part of any community trying to expand its cultural scope. Clemson University fills this spot with the Lee Gallery and its current showcase of faculty artworks.
The current exhibition at Lee Gallery is a collection of work done by the Art department faculty. Featuring more than ten faculty artists, the exhibit houses a variety of works
done in an assortment of mediums. The works include paintings, photos, sculpture, ceramics, and digital pieces. The exhibit has been there since September 24th and will be in place until November 2nd.Each teacher/artist addresses some idea, asks some question, or develops some theme in their works. The only common theme among all the pieces in the exhibition, however, is that the artists teach here at Clemson. Every artist is addressing something different and making their own unique point with the images they produce. One example is Anderson Wrangle’s centerpiece from his exhibition Forest Interrupted. Of the piece, he says: “The images of the tennis players and spectators, and the images of the colored smoke in the landscape are interruptions in the real site, and in their representation.” Other works include Sue Grier’s and Mike Vatalaro’s ceramic stoneware and David Donar’s animations. Todd McDonald’s paintings were hard to miss. In his discussion of his works, McDonald speaks of structure and the lack thereof: “I find it strangely compelling that a grand oak tree, in its quiet state of seeming permanence, might occupy a similar volume as that of a violent explosion. Many of my images find ambiguous locations that could exist somewhere between tree, building, or explosion.” My personal favorite set of works was Christina Nguyen Hung’s photographs. They featured Petri dishes with images made of bacteria growth in the nutrient agar. The creative use of such an unexpected medium adds another dimension to the work.
Settings like Lee Gallery and exhibits like the Department of Art Faculty Exhibition contribute in a positive way to university culture. As previously stated, visual art is a part of almost every culture in society. Groups of people, whether they are large or small, can be identified by their art. Clemson University is a community, and the thoughts and ideas of the people here can be expressed through visual art.
It is in this way that students and faculty can share ideas. The ability to communicate and share ideas is a significant part of culture – especially one at a university like Clemson. It allows for everyone to benefit from the education and experiences of one individual. The faculty exhibit at Lee particularly serves to this idea, as it allows for the faculty to share ideas with each other and for students to learn more about their teachers as fellow artists. Because every artists is addressing their own questions or portraying their own observations about the world around them, each artist and student can use others’ art to add to ask their own question and develop their own artistic works. This collaboration and sharing of ideas enhances the educational experience for all those involved, especially students in the College of Art and Architecture.
Lee Gallery’s contributions to the culture at Clemson University are not limited to provoking discussion and education within the university, but also to connecting with ideas that originate outside the university. Part of developing a mature and well-rounded university culture is investigating and analyzing input from other parts of society. Lee Gallery has brought in ideas from other parts of society both in spirit and in physical reality.
The members of the Art department’s faculty have been educated in various locations and visited many different places. Despite the fact that they are all here at Clemson now, they all have a different story to tell. It is in this way that Lee Gallery is bringing in influences from outside cultures. Faculty members have received degrees from institutions such as Carnegie Mellon, Arizona State, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, California Institute of the Arts, University of the South, and the Memphis College of Art and Design. Each of these places
instilled different ideas in the artists it educated, and all of those ideas are at Clemson now in a visual form.Art galleries, like the Lee Gallery, also attract and host exhibitions from other locations. For example, in 2004, printmakers from Ohio visited and put on a demonstration for faculty and students. Papermakers from a studio in New York showcased an exhibition in fall of 2004. Also, an exhibit about religion and the Carolinas was on view in fall of 2006. These are just a few examples of some of the shows that have been hosted at the Lee Gallery. Art students and faculty can learn more and develop their work further if they are exposed to the developments in visual art outside of Clemson. Non-art majors can also benefit from visiting exhibitions at Lee Gallery. The outside exhibitions represent the ideas of the people and area from which they originate. All types of students can benefit from learning about these other perspectives.
The presence of culture in a college community results in the broadening of horizons and the development of taste. Visual art is an integral part any culture and should be a part of any community trying to expand its cultural scope. Clemson University fills this spot with the Lee Gallery and its current showcase of faculty artworks.
