On Monday, January 8th, the Ortlip Gallery was opened for the Art and Visual Communication Faculty Exhibition. The gallery features work by current and former Houghton art faculty members: Ryann Cooley, associate professor of digital media and photography; Gary Baxter, Ted Murphy, and John Rhett, professors of art; Aaron Harrison, adjunct professor of art; and Peter Mollenkof, the art collection manager for the college. There was a reception for the opening of the exhibition on Saturday, January 13th at 6pm.
Ryann Cooley is showing work called “The Glass Project.” According to his artist statement, his work in the show features arranged glass that “creates a physical experience of a photograph that is not readily achieved via a digital platform.” Cooley also has a current show installed in the Wesley Chapel Art Gallery, located in the basement level of the chapel.
Gary Baxter is exhibiting various clay pieces, consisting of black and white fish sculptures. His artist statement says, “as the condition of our planet worsens, and its message of beauty fades, likewise the human effort to save it also fades, because the greatest incentive for preserving the realm of nature, IS ITS beauty.” Baxter has been working with fish on and off for about thirty years. This is his last semester at Houghton before officially retiring.
Ted Murphy’s work in the show consists of ten pieces made with both soft and hard pastel on paper and linen. Art student Katelyn Heins ‘20 went to the opening and talked with Professor Murphy about his work. She said, “it was nice seeing that Murphy is working on some of the same stuff we are working on in pastels. It was a really cool learning opportunity.”
John Rhett is showing a few pieces made with India ink. Heins commented, “[He] had these really cool snowy landscape ink paintings. They were really simple silhouettes but insanely beautiful and at the same time very complex.”
Aaron Harrison is exhibiting various pieces in stoneware. He is currently the professor of the three dimensional design and sculpture classes at Houghton, taking over some of Gary Baxter’s previous courses.
Peter Mollenkof’s pieces are made with colored pencil on paper, graphite on paper, and acrylic on wood panel. Mollenkof was a part of the Houghton art faculty in the 1980’s.
In regards to the opening reception, Ortlip Gallery director and assistant professor of art and printmaking, Alicia Taylor-Austin said, “There was no formal gallery talk, leaving more time to have conversations one-on-one with the artists and I really enjoyed talking with many of the students who attended,” she continued, “it’s really encouraging to see students at the art receptions and I always appreciate the chance to get to know students better outside of the classroom and hear their response to the work on display.”
Heins said, “It was cool. All the professors were there so you could talk to them about their process and their ideas.” Bethany Kuiken ‘18 was also at the opening, and remarked, “The professors didn’t share formally at the exhibition, it was just browsing. But there was a lot of students and faculty that came out even though it was freezing!” There were about sixty people in attendance at the opening.
The Art and Visual Communication faculty exhibition will be in the Ortlip Gallery until February 16th, 2018. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9am to 6pm.