Museum of Fine Arts showcases new exhibit

GCSU’s Museum of Fine Arts—located in the former Napier-Underwood residence on the corner of South Columbia and Hancock streets—is now holding an exhibition of GCSU’s permanent collection.

The museum is open to the public and free of charge. Carlos Herrera, the gallery coordinator for the Department of Art, has been working with the museum since it opened Spring 2009.

“Right now we have a permanent art collection presentation, what’s displayed there now is prints, drawings, painting and digital prints,” Herrera said.

Herrera is the museum curator for both the Museum of Fine Arts and the Blackbridge Hall art gallery. According to Hererra, the Blackbridge Hall Gallery showcases mostly modern art exhibits for example the installation exhibit featured now. The Museum of Fine Arts, however, presents more traditional and contemporary works.

Charmaine Tesina | gcsunade.com

The Museum of Fine Arts is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and free to the public. The current exhibition features GCSU’s permanent collection.

“Apart from the Museum of Fine Arts being a place for the community to come, art students have the opportunity to go see, curate shows and write and do research on the exhibitions,” Herrera said. “Faculty and staff can look at the works, study and do research on the works as well.”

The exhibit currently on display was curated last semester by senior museum studies major Ellen Conner and alumnus Theodore Windish for Herrera’s museum studies class.

The house itself is historic. Philip Trammell Schutze designed the structure in 1935. Between 1912 and 1968 Schutze designed buildings for important families of the times including the Vanderbilts and the Morgans.

“I really like how the museum feels as if you’re strolling though someone’s home,” said freshman biology major Mike Rose after visiting the museum.

Currently exhibited in the museum are works from donors, visiting artists, alumni and past faculty. There are various modern paintings mixed in with works dating back to the early 1800s.

“We are fortunate to be able to house the university’s permanent art collection in this historic home which is art in itself,” President Dorothy Leland said. “We look forward to both preserving this notable home created by one of America’s greatest architects and providing the university and the community with an important venue for art.”

A painting made by Leland herself titled “Animal Puzzle” is one of the pieces on display in the museum. The art in the Museum of Fine Arts is a mixture of different artwork styles—paintings, prints and mixed media.

Exhibitions in the Museum of Fine Arts typically run semester long. Since establishment, the museum has held exhibitions including the a print exhibition, an alumni exhibition and an international exhibition.

Chelsea Nicewander, a first-time visitor of the museum, enjoyed her experience with the Museum of Fine Arts.

“There isn’t so much art here to overwhelm you but definitely more than enough to be interesting,” she said.

The Museum of Fine Arts is now open every Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The reception is still to be announced but, according to Herrera, will take place in early November. The building is open to the community so anyone can view the university’s permanent art collection.

Posted by Katelyn Hebert on Oct 8 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.