New Kresge exhibit highlights faculty projects

By Robbie Couch | Originally Published: 09/09/10 7:33pm |Modified: 09/09/10 7:53pm | No comments

Starting today, art students can judge their instructors’ work for a change.

The 2010-11 Faculty Biennial Exhibition begins with an opening reception from 7-9 p.m. at Kresge Art Museum. The exhibition will showcase the work faculty members in the Department of Art and Art History have completed throughout the past two years.

The exhibit will be on display at Kresge until Oct. 10.

Christine Nichols, communication and events coordinator for Kresge, said the twice yearly event is a great way to get art students motivated.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for art students to come and view the pieces,” Nichols said. “They’re excited to be here, to get going with their coursework and to be inspired by their professors.”

Although there are no guidelines on the subject matter faculty members can submit, most pieces depict their latest research, which Nichols said can include combining works from artists in the past and more modern themes.

“It’s looking at what’s going on worldwide in the art world,” Nichols said. “It’s researching ancient methods, for instance, with ceramics. We have faculty members who go to China and look at old methods and then reinterpret those for the 21st century.”

Adam Brown, an associate professor in the Department of Art and Art History, is one of the faculty members showcasing their work in the exhibition and has a background in robotics.

Brown said his project is a smaller piece of a larger idea on which he’sbeen working. The large-scale project is on display in São Paulo, Brazil.

Brown said the piece asks what it means to be alive by comparing robotics to humans.

“It’s an autonomous group of robots that communicate with each other,” Brown said. “It also interacts with the humans around it.”

Michelle Word, a teaching specialist in the Department of Art and Art History, said the exhibition displays an important aspect of MSU.

“Being a part of the Big Ten, research is behind so much of what we do,” Word said. “We have faculty whose research can engage students through their art.”

Nichols said given the rarity of the experience, the exhibit is one students shouldn’t pass up.

“This show only comes around once every two years, so it’s a really special opportunity,” Nichols said.

“Many of the faculty show their pieces in galleries throughout the country, but to have them in one museum, in one exhibition, is an opportunity not to be missed.”