Another school year also means another VSU faculty art exhibition. The annual art exhibition is back on campus and this year features the theme, “Not Just Pretty Faces.”  

With the exhibition being on display from Aug. 22 to Sept. 20, it gives VSU faculty the opportunity to highlight their professional work to students and the Valdosta community. 

The exhibition is on the first floor of the Fine Arts Building inside the Maranville Fine Arts Gallery and Martha G. Smart Gallery. The gallery features various materials and mediums of art created by faculty members including oil paintings, welded steel, copper, denim, letterpress, aluminum, and mixed media. 

Abigail Heuss, Shadows and Silhouettes: Collage #1. Created out of steel, brass, copper, wood, and found materials.  

The faculty art exhibition has been one of the schools’ traditions for many years. “There is always a faculty exhibition every year, they change the theme each year,” said student and gallery assistant, Patricia Gatchell. “The faculty exhibition is the first one of the years which inspires students and gives faculty the opportunity to show students what professional exhibits looks like.”

Gatchell also mentioned that this years’ theme, “Not Just Pretty Faces” was inspired by ceramics professor, Mark Errol. Gatchell said, “Professor Mark Errol always says, ‘more than just a pretty face’ during his classes.” 

Mark Errol, Not a Winner. Created out of lottery tickets and thread.  

Errol is the faculty member who oversees the gallery and organizes the shows produced throughout the school year. 

The exhibition features work from faculty members such as Ashley Smith, Joseph Schairer, Evelyn Davis-Walker, Abigail Heuss, Mark Errol, Arthur Blake Pearce, Kyoungim Park, Dr. Jenny Evans, Tommy J. Crane, and Dr. Selena Nawrocki. 

Each piece of art that is displayed in the exhibition tells a unique story by using a multitude of techniques and compositions. 

Evelyn Davis-Walker (with photographs by Glenn Josey). Created out of letterpress that was printed on cardboard to form pop-up books.  

QR codes are accessible throughout the gallery to give visitors the option to view information about each individual faculty member. Each faculty member has an artist biography along with an artist statement that is shown under the “Department of Art & Design” section of VSUs’ website. 

Every faculty member’s statement includes a detailed description of their work along with what inspired them to create each piece. Each faculty member tells a unique, in-depth story that leaves an impact on all who read their statements. 

Selena Nawrocki, Edge of Metropolis. Created out of mixed media.  

The overall concept of the exhibitions’ theme conveys that things are be more than what may often be perceived as “pretty.” Every piece has a unique meaning that resonates with students as well as the Valdosta community to relay an impactful message.

Written by Kennedy Hill, Entertainment Editor. Photos by Kennedy Hill.