Unless you’re a student of the art department, it may be unusual for you to step foot into the Draper and Maynard building all the way down the hill by the police station. When entering the building there is a room on your left which is a gallery named after artist and former Plymouth State Teacher, Karl Drerup. There are all sorts of art galleries and talks on the art hanging there. Perhaps the best part is that the exhibit is free and open for anyone to see! The next time you want to experience something new, or maybe you’re only bored on a rainy day, simply take a walk down the hill.
On Nov. 2, The Faculty Exhibition opened at the Karl Drerup Gallery in D & M. This exhibition features faculty members from the art department and their selected pieces. The showing provides “an opportunity for students and members of the Plymouth State University community to become better acquainted with the art department faculty outside the classroom,” says a postcard issued by the art department.
The Drerup gallery is open from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. every day of the week except for Sundays and is open until 8 on Wednesdays. There are plenty of opportunities to see the variety of work, including a number of oil paintings and pieces displaying the use of digital photography, all of which are showcased in the exhibit. One of the most interesting additions to the show is a big display called, “Ask the Artist.” This showcases each artist and provides cards to write on which show an image of each artist’s artwork. There are comment cards provided so that anyone can ask them a question and a selected few will be answered during talks and panel discussions.
The exhibition tantalizes the eyes with mind-bending images of mixed media, soft watercolors paintings of the outdoors and strict black and white images of photography.
Phillip Inwood’s mixed media entitled, “Last Supper” may challenge your ideas of traditional art with his creation using a hemlock panel with tin and iron pieced on the top left corner of it. Above this is a TV with a video playing of what looks to be a camera spinning nonstop in a circle in the woods. The image flashes once in a while to something hard to make out and the coloring of the trees change from hues or red to green. Another contemporary piece is that of Nick Sevigney’s earthenware. “Pipes 1/5” and “Pipes 3/5” are both mounted on the wall and show many different textures, curves and shapes.
On a more traditional note, the show features a stunning watercolor entitled “Studio View, Ashland” by Kathi Smith. The soft watercolors in this image make a bold statement and allow the viewer to see through the artist’s eyes. Also displayed is a cotton art quilt by Annette Mitchell. The quilt shows the various styles of stitching, shapes and patterns.
There are many, many more different types of art and artists to be seen within the gallery. The exhibition will be running through December 11 so there is plenty of opportunity to take a few minutes out of your day, see and experience something new, or simply get to ‘know’ your professors a little better!