The Center for Visual Arts – Lee Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of the “Restrain, Resensitize,” exhibition Monday, March 31 with an artist talk and closing reception planned for Friday, April 11, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The exhibit showcases the M.F.A. creative research and final thesis of printmaking graduate student, Adrienne Lichliter.
Adrienne Lichliter uses a unique printing process, implementing techniques with wood and copper, allowing for the natural media, the grain, notches, and wearing of the wood as well as the patina finish of the metal, to surface in the work, creating a swarming dynamic of textural intricacies and depth of delicate mark making. She allows the visual effects of the reactive material to work with and against the sensitive marking of her hand to create a conversational push and pull of visual focus and to highlight the rich and quiet vibrancy of the medium. The artists writes, “The artwork hovers between paradoxes: dissolve and formation, density and void, focal point and dispersion, accident and intention.” By enhancing the viewer’s experience of the essence of the medium in a “modest and restrained aesthetic,” the emphasis shifts from a traditional object-subject matter to a relinquished revelry of the spontaneity and honesty in the mark of the artist’s hand. This is Lichliter’s sincere directive, “[that] there is potency in something that can be comfortably indecisive and unclear. With art that resists assertion and clarity, I hope to re-sensitize the viewer.”
The visual production is a small part of the research and creative development pursued in the two and a half year of a students graduate study in pursuit of an Master of Fine Arts Degree at Clemson University. Students explore concepts, purposes of intent, art historical discourse, personal histories, and new processes, creating a conceptual foundation for their visual work. For the artist, this is an ever evolving and essential process in their creative research. The public is invited to join the conversation by attending the artist talk, scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, 2:30 – 3 p.m. and again Friday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. during the closing reception for the exhibit.
The exhibit runs March 31 – April 11 at the Lee Gallery with an artist reception scheduled for Friday, April 11, 6 pm – 8 pm. The Lee Gallery at Clemson University hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Student exhibits, artist receptions and talks are free to the public and hosted by students and their families. For more information about the exhibit contact Lee Gallery Exhibits Preparator, Jac Kuntz at jkuntz@g.clemson.edu.
About the Art Galleries and Exhibits at the Center for Visual Arts – Clemson University
There are several galleries on and off campus maintained by the Center for Visual Arts through the Lee Gallery and Center for Visual Arts – Greenville. Exhibitions on and off campus provide the University and surrounding community with access to regional, national and international visual arts and artists. The Lee Gallery and CVA-Greenville also provides programmatic offerings such as artist presentations, guest speakers, walking tours, and special events designed to introduce audiences to creative research, influences and ideas being explored by artists showcased in the galleries.
At the end of each semester the Lee Gallery showcases artwork of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Department of Art academic program. Students are required to present a final thesis of their creative research in a professional exhibition format as part of their degree fulfillment. Artists included in exhibitions are asked to deliver a public presentation about the content, inspiration and historical context of their work to the general public. Artists’ presentations serve to provide the community with an access point for understanding artistic research practice and individual motivations for creating visual art.
Galleries, special exhibits, artwork and/or showcases can be found on the main Clemson campus in our flagship Lee Gallery located in Lee Hall I as well as the Acorn Gallery in Lee Hall II. Throughout campus visitors can also enjoy exhibits showcased at the College of Architecture Arts and Humanities Dean’s Gallery in Strode Tower, Sikes Hall Exhibit Showcase in Sikes and the Brooks Center for Performing Arts. Gallery showcases off-campus can be found at the Center for Visual Arts – Greenville located in the Village of West Greenville, the International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, the Charles K. Cheezem OLLI Education Center in Patrick Square and The Madren Center at the Conference Center and Inn both in Clemson.