BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University school of Performing and Visual Arts is proud to present its annual Faculty and Staff Art Show. The art show will feature the works of various Gardner-Webb faculty in the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Art Gallery in the Tucker Student Center. The display will remain open through March 31, 2021.
The Faculty and Staff Art Show has become an annual event organized by the school of Performing and Visual Arts that showcases the new works created by several faculty throughout the University. According to Dr. Nancy Bottoms, Associate Professor of Art History and Director of the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Gallery, “This event is important for the Arts program because while art faculty research, write, and present papers in the same manner as faculty in other disciplines do, art faculty also develop new skills as they grow in their understanding of how the of role art plays in human lives.” Annual faculty showcases not only put great faculty in the limelight, but they also showcase the academic and creative growth of said faculty. The show challenges the university community to think in new ways about art as well as provide opportunities for conversations about the ways that art helps see the world.
The faculty that have chosen to have their art displayed in the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Art Gallery are Professor Doug Knotts, Professor Paula Casper, Dr. Nancy Bottoms, Professor Gary Freeman and Dr. Susan Bell of the Department of Visual Arts; Professor Andrew Rich of the Department of Theatre Arts; and Professor Michelle Moser and Dr. Lisa Luedeman from the Department of Communication & New Media.
While the program is a good way to show off the various talents that Gardner-Webb faculty possess, it is also a good way for the Arts department to gain some exposure. “To understand why the faculty art show is an important event, you must understand that the purpose of the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Gallery is to showcase art for the university community. Often this art is the work of someone outside of the university community, but such as with this show, we also like to highlight the work of those inside the university,” said April Shauf, of the Department of Visual Arts and the Department of Theatre Arts.
“Every year Senior art majors must present their artwork in order to graduate. The gallery administrators work to host a variety of artists, topics, styles, genres and mediums. They put a lot of thought into what exhibits they will include in each year’s schedule,” Shauf said.
The Faculty Art Show is free to attend and located in the Ali Pouryousefi Memorial Gallery on the second floor of the Tucker Student Center. The exhibit is open throughout the day and easily accessible. All guests are required to wear masks and practice safe distancing measures while in the gallery. For more information regarding the 2021 Faculty Art Show or to ask specific questions regarding the Art Show and/or the Arts program at Gardner-Webb, contact Shauf at [email protected].
Located in the North Carolina foothills, Gardner-Webb University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university. Gardner-Webb emphasizes a strong student-centered experience and rigorous academics to prepare students to become effective leaders within the global community. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.
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