“Warhol: Portraits and the Everyday” will open Jan. 22 and continue through March 6, 2019, at Lee Gallery, the primary exhibition space for Clemson Visual Arts (CVA).

The first gallery exhibition of the spring semester at Clemson University will feature original art from one of the most iconic artists of the 20^th century, Andy Warhol.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Jonathan Flatley – the author of “Like Andy Warhol” – will deliver a special presentation about the artist during a guest appearance on Friday, Jan. 25.

“Warhol: Portraits and the Everyday” showcases the artist’s practice through three distinct but related platforms: Polaroid portraits, black and white photographs, and his large, colorful, screen-printed portraits. By bringing these three creative pursuits together in one gallery, viewers will get a snapshot of Warhol’s fluid approach to art and life.

Warhol’s Polaroid portraits of celebrities, couples and individuals were created as resource material for his larger commissioned screen prints. The collection of Polaroids in the exhibition present individuals in repeated but slightly different positions, as directed by Warhol during their photo sessions. When viewed together, the Polaroids reveal subtle changes of expressions by the sitter. They also provide a thought-provoking counterpoint to our current fascination with selfies and the mediated presentations of identity through social media platforms.

“I was most interested in showing Polaroid portraits for what can be discovered by looking closely at the subtle changes taking place within the sitters’ expressions,” said Lee Gallery Director Denise Woodward-Detrich. “In these works, we see Warhol capturing various states of individual transformation through the simple use of repetition. These sittings allowed Warhol to select specific poses, but seen together they provide a portrait of the individual that is more complex than can be captured in one snapshot.”

Warhol’s black and white photographs function as a documentation of the people, places, objects and activities unfolding around him every day. For the viewer, they provide insight into the life of a famous artist, but for Warhol they were a way to collect and record things he liked and might potentially use later as a resource.

Photographs in the exhibition are on loan from the University of South Carolina-Upstate and East Tennessee State University. Both universities were granted original Warhol photographs for viewing and study as part of the Andy Warhol Photographic Legacy Program, organized by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The Legacy Program distributed Warhol’s photographic works to colleges and universities across the country to provide greater access to these relatively unknown bodies of work.

Jonathan Flatley’s presentation on his recent book “Like Andy Warhol” will be celebrated with a reception from 5-6 p.m. and with a presentation by Flatley held from 6-7 p.m. in the Lee Hall auditorium (Lee 2-111). Flatley is an associate professor of English at Wayne State University in Detroit. He is the author of “Affective Mapping: Melancholia and the Politics of Modernism” and co-editor of “Pop Out: Queer A follow-up talk will move into the Lee Gallery, where the “Andy Warhol Portraits & The Everyday exhibit is installed.

Flatley’s presentation is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Humanities Hub at Clemson University.

The “Warhol: Portraits and the Everyday” exhibition is open to visitors 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday through March 6. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Lee Gallery Director Denise Woodward-Detrich at woodwaw@clemson.edu.

CLEMSON — Clemson University visual arts students will be on full display this spring in the Clemson University Center for Visual Art’s (CVA) gallery spaces.

The second half of the semester features a calendar full of student exhibitions. Both Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduating students present a comprehensive show of artwork weeks prior to graduation. These exhibits are a special time for visual art students, allowing them to reflect on the transformational experience Clemson has provided and choose pieces that best personify the student’s creative achievements.

BFA senior exhibits and MFA thesis exhibits showcase the culmination of year-long research endeavors. Visual Arts students go through a series of critiques aimed at helping build a body of work of the students’ choosing. The public is invited to join the conversation by attending the artist talks, followed by the artists’ receptions. Join the CVA this spring to see the next generation of artists.

MFA Thesis Exhibit – Statera: A Place Between

Master of Fine Arts Thesis Students, Susan Vander Kooi and Carey Morton will present an exhibition illustrating the importance of interconnected relationships between people, landscape, and the natural world. Throughout history, there has been a deep human connection to the earth and recognition of our position within space that contemporary culture is potentially forgetting. This work acknowledges the tangible and intangible attributes of human dependence on, and relationship with, the land, nature, and visceral experience. Utilizing sculpture, the artists blur boundaries, explore the need for balance, and challenge viewer perception.

BFA Senior Exhibit #1 – Take Shape

Apr. 9–13, M–F, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Lee Gallery

Artist Talks and Reception – F, Apr. 13, 6–8 p.m.

Take Shape will feature works by Mariana Aubad, Leah Brazell, McKenize Fletcher, Hannah Gardner, Amanda Hazell, Kara Lerchenfeld, Cody Miller and Anna Rice.

BFA Senior Exhibit #2 – Existence

Apr. 18–25, M–F, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Lee Gallery

Artist Talks and Reception – F, Apr. 20, 6–8 p.m.

Existence will feature works by Lainee Craft, Caroline Herring, Mary Jo May, Zoe Rogers, Michala Stewart, Heather Suttles and Samantha Trivinia.

Additional student artwork currently on display until Apr. 19 is the Next Up Invitational Exhibit, Sikes Hall Showcase, Ground Floor.

Wrapping up the end of spring semester will be the Spring Ceramics Studio Sale and the Community Support Art (CSArt) Share Pick Up, Apr. 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. outside of the Lee Gallery along with the Foundation Review, Apr. 27. Students who have completed their Foundation studio courses in the Department of Art at Clemson University will showcase their creative efforts in the Lee Gallery. The showcase is a review of student progress and an opportunity for the Department to share the work of these art students with a local audience. Opening reception will be 6-8 p.m.

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The Center for Visual Arts
The Center for Visual Arts (CVA) at Clemson University is where students, visitors and scholars explore contemporary perspectives in art and culture through research, outreach programming and studio practice. With a mission to engage and render visible the creative process, the CVA is a dynamic intellectual and physical environment where art is created, exhibited and interpreted. It educates through academic research and practice with art at its core, drawing upon varied disciplines to examine critically cultural issues and artistic concerns.

The Lee Gallery at the Clemson University Center for Visual Arts and the Arts Center of Clemson will host the popular and unique celebration of the arts with the signature town-gown event “Passport to the Arts” 6-9:30 p.m. March 2.

Now, in its eighth year, Passport to the Arts, which continues to see a sold out crowd year after year, remains to be an exciting and popular “Town and Gown” event. Join the Lee Gallery and the Arts Center of Clemson as they host an evening full of art, entertainers, live music, drinks and exceptional food showcased at four different locations.

This event highlights the incredible local talent housed in the town of Clemson and surrounding area. Clemson celebrates its longtime standing as one of the top town-gown relations according to The Princeton Review. Attendees and area businesses have supported the event that is truly an exceptional evening highlighting the beauty of this nationally renowned relationship.

Attendees receive a “passport” at an announced starting location, and stamp their books at several venues as they travel through Clemson on provided transportation. Many of the pieces are on sale and being debuted for the first time in the four gallery venues. Additional highlights from this year’s event will be the integration of student digital art that celebrates the intersection of art and technology in the Watt Family Innovation Center. All attendees also will have opportunity to engage with the many offerings of the Center such as creating their own virtual reality art through the Immersion Space.

At each new venue, a new batch of local food, music, art, and creativity will be on display. During Passport to the Arts, entertainment is at every turn — even on the shuttle; local musicians greet you with their talents as you travel through Clemson. This innovative combination of art and entertainment has made Passport to the Arts the “Town and Gown” event of the year.

Clemson Area Transit (CAT) offers transportation for the Passport to the Arts tour. All shuttles feature entertainment, making the ride to each venue a destination in itself. The locations this year include The Arts Center of Clemson, the Clemson Area Transit facility, Lee Gallery at the Clemson University Center for Visual Arts and Watt Family Innovation Center.

Click this link see photos from past Passport to the Arts: The following businesses make this event possible: https://www.flickr.com/photos/passporttothearts/albums

Click this link to view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ujEQuUSHY

Buy tickets by visiting clemsonpassport.org. For more information, contact Center for Visual Arts Marketing and Public Relations Director, Meredith Mims McTigue, mmims@clemson.edu.

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Current event partners and sponsors

The following businesses make this event possible: Clemson Area Transit, Clemson Downs, Isaaqueena Pediatric Dentistry, PrintSmart, Watt Family Center for Innovation.

“Troubling Beauty” showcases original paintings and hand cut paper collages on view at the Lee Gallery at the Clemson University Center for Visual Arts with a artist talk and closing reception Feb. 8.

Culling through scattered memories of the past and current experiences with her daughters, Yvette Cummings art explores the complicated path of youth, beauty, femininity and transitions from childhood into self-awareness.

“Yvette’s work is provocative and dynamic referencing human development in a world filled with paradoxes and complexities,” said Director Woodward-Detrich.

Her use of strong and brightly colored backdrops and decorative motifs draws the viewer into a world that is both overpowering and disarming. Juxtaposed to the backgrounds are innocent exchanges between various figures that evoke a tenuous uncertainty. The relationship between these moments presented in the work and the artist skill at painting, present complex and emotional paradoxes for the viewer.

“This body of work is perfect to showcase on a university campus as it poses important questions about society, social expectations and boundaries for all to ponder,” said Woodward-Detrich.

Originally, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cummings currently lives in Conway, South Carolina where she teaches at Coastal Carolina University. She received a master’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning, where she was the recipient of the Wolfstein Travel Fellowship to Spain. She taught as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina (USC) Department of Art in Columbia, S.C. and was awarded the Stephen J. Dalton Teacher of the Year from USC in 2011.

The commitment of the Lee Gallery at the Clemson University Center for Visual Arts continues to support the university’s Clemson Forward strategic plan to provide educational activities that expose students to research through artistic means.

There will be an artist gallery talk and closing reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8. The artist talk and reception are free and open the public. For more information about this exhibit, contact Lee Gallery Director, Denise Woodward-Detrich at woodwaw@clemson.edu.

The Lee Gallery at the Clemson University Center for Visual Arts (CVA) first art exhibit of the fall semester focuses on the importance of striking a sustainable balance between nature and the current global consumer culture with Pam Longobardi’s “Drifters Project,” on display Aug. 21-Sept. 27.

Plastics are integrated with every aspect of our lives from the smallest little toy to life sustaining medical equipment and every other place in-between.  Artist Pam Longobardi utilizes these discards to make installations that explore our global culture through plastics that have been transformed by the ocean then collected, documented and re-presented by the artist into the gallery context.

“I am interested in the collision between nature and global consumer culture. Ocean plastic is a material that can unleash unpredictable dynamics,” Longobardi said. “I am interested in it in particular, as opposed to all garbage in general, because of what it reveals about us as a global culture and what it reveals about the ocean as a type of cultural space, as well as a giant dynamic engine of life and change.  As a product of culture that exhibits visibly the attempts of nature to reabsorb and regurgitate this invader, ocean plastic has profound stories to tell.”

The “Drifters Project” began in 2006 after Longobardi encountered mountains of plastic being deposited on remote islands in Hawaii by the ocean. Since that time she has removed thousands of pounds of material for re-examination. Visitors to the Lee Gallery will experience various installations along with select paintings and drawings.

This innovative art collaboration is part of the Lee Gallery at the Clemson University Center for Visual Arts (CVA) commitment to support the institutions 2020 ClemsonForward Strategic Plan to provide educational activities that expose students to research through artistic means. This type of exposure encourages dialogue surrounding supporting a sustainable environment.

The Lee Gallery at the Clemson University CVA will be open for this exhibit 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. It is located in 1-101 Lee Hall, 323 Fernow St. There will be artist talk followed by a reception on Aug. 25, 5:30 p.m. The exhibition, artist talk and reception are free to the public because of the generous support given to the Center for Visual Arts. For more information about this exhibit, contact Lee Gallery Director, Denise Woodward-Detrich at woodwaw@clemson.edu. Visit www.clemson.edu/cva to learn about exhibitions in the Lee Gallery as well as other Center for Visual Arts activities and events.

CLEMSON — Clemson University’s National Print and Drawing exhibition, “Adaptable: Facing the Future,” opens Thursday in the Lee Gallery and will be available to the public through March 15. The juror and awards presentation and reception will be 6–8 p.m. Feb. 17.

Since the beginning of our time on Earth we have responded to the impact of change in every aspect of our human experience. In the ever-expanding social, technological, biological and digital era, change is taking place at unprecedented speeds while the world is becoming a much smaller place. The 2017 Clemson National Print and Drawing exhibition explores change in a wide range of approaches to unpacking this idea.

Consisting of 62 works by 59 artists from across the United States, the biennial show was juried by faculty emerita Sydney A. Cross. More than 340 images were entered by 118 artists. Cross received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Northern Arizona University and her Master of Fine Arts from Arizona State University. She taught printmaking at Clemson University and she was awarded the title of Distinguished Alumni Professor. Always professionally active in her field, she held the office of president for the Southern Graphics Council, the largest printmaking society in North America.

The works will be on view from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. For more information, contact Lee Gallery Director Denise Woodward-Detrich at woodwaw@clemson.edu.

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Participating Artists
AWG, Miguel Aragon, Todd Arsenault, Anne Beidler, Mark Bischel, Kelsey Bledsoe, Cynthia Brinich-Langlois, Jessica Burke, Karen Brussat Butler, Anne Chesnut, Allison Conley, Jacob Cotton, Andrew DeCaen, Darcy Edwin, Katie Efstathiou, Beth Fein, Craig Fisher, Kendra Foster, Karen Gallagher-Iverson, Oscar Gillespie, Brian Gillis, Sharon Harper, Yuji Hiratsuka, Melinda Hoffman, Andy Holliday, John Holmgren, Nick Conbere, Zach Horn, Richard Hricko, Jayne Reid Jackson, Joyce Jewell, Brian Johnson, Matthew Kluber, Lauren Lake, Treelee MacAnn, William Mathie, Juliet Mattila, Corrin Smithson McWhirter, Johanna Mueller, Nick Osetek, Andy Owen, Caroline Owen, Ethan Peeler, Aaron Pennington, Johnny Plastini, Haley Prestifilippo, Adrian Rhodes, Rachel Rinker, Nicholas Ruth, Emmet Sandberg, Blake Sanders, Mark Sisson, Emily Stokes, Lynda Harwood Swenson, Michael Weigman, Art Werger, Linda Whitney, Chris Williford, Jackson Zorn

The Lee Gallery
The Lee Gallery at the Clemson University Center for Visual Arts provides the university and surrounding community with access to regional, national and international artists. Through a variety of exhibitions and special events, the galleries at Clemson University are dedicated to teaching, providing a space to display student and faculty research and serving the community, as well as providing internship opportunities for undergraduate art majors. Exhibitions held in Lee Gallery examine contemporary issues that underscore academic programs and serve the broader mission of the university.  Visitors to campus can enjoy exhibits showcasing undergraduate, graduate and faculty work as well as nationally and internationally recognized artists. The Lee Gallery maintains exhibition spaces at College of Architecture Arts and Humanities Dean’s Gallery in Strode Tower, Sikes Hall showcase space, the Brooks Center for Performing Arts lobby showcase, and the Acorn Gallery in Lee Hall II. The Lee Gallery is located in Lee Hall I on Clemson University’s campus. Gallery Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and select Fridays for special events.

CLEMSON — The Center for Visual Arts (CVA) at Clemson University has hit the ground running in 2017, having already opened four new exhibits, hosted an artist talk and celebrated the sale of the spring 2017 shares of Community Supported Art (CSArt) student-created work.

The CVA’s calendar continues to unfold and reveal more events to attend, including new artists and innovative workshops. From visiting artists to student exhibitions and seminars, the CVA calendar has unique and transformative experiences for all. Thanks to generous supporters, the vast majority of CVA events remain free for the public. Check out the ongoing and upcoming opportunities the CVA is offering this spring. For more information and to access the full calendar of events, visit clemson.edu/cva.

Clemson National Print and Drawing Exhibition
Feb. 15–March 15 • 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday • Lee Gallery
Artist Reception • Feb. 7, 3:30–4:30 p.m. • Lee Gallery
Exhibition • Feb. 15–March 15 • 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday • Lee Gallery

Since the beginning of our time on Earth, we have responded to the impact of change in every aspect of our human experience. In the ever-expanding social, technological, biological and digital era, change is taking place at unprecedented speeds while the world is becoming a much smaller place. The 2017 Clemson National Print and Drawing exhibition explores change in a wide range of approaches to unpacking this idea.

Passport to the Arts
March 3 • 6-9:30 p.m. •  Order tickets now at clemsonpassport.org

Now in its seventh year, the “Passport to the Arts” continues to be an exciting “town and gown” event. Join the Lee Gallery at Clemson University and The Arts Center of Clemson for an evening of fine art, entertainers, live music, drinks and exceptional food showcased at four different locations.

The Clemson Area Transit (CAT) shuttle will take you on a visual arts tour of Clemson for a fun-filled evening. All shuttles feature entertainment, making your ride to each venue even more enjoyable. Our locations this year include The Arts Center, the CATBus Terminal, the Lee Gallery at Clemson University and Cox Hall at Clemson Little Theatre in Pendleton.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased at clemsonpassport.org.

Jeff Beekman artist talk
March 2, 5:30–6:30 p.m. • 2-301 Lee Hall

Jeff Beekman is a multidisciplinary artist whose artwork since early 2000 has explored the interrelationships between land, memory and human activity.  His work has been exhibited at venues across the U.S., as well as New Zealand, Australia, China, Vietnam, England, Hungary and South Korea.

Ink Travels
March 31–Oct. 4 • 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Sikes Hall Showcase, ground floor

“Ink travels” refers to the constant challenge of keeping an active print shop clean.  In the context of this exhibition, the term also refers to the wide-reaching influence of Professor Sydney A. Cross’s teaching and mentoring. Similar to how “ink travels” this exhibition showcases Cross’s legacy as an educator and illustrates the positive impact she has had on artists across the nation.  The exhibition is a thoughtful tribute to the quality of Cross’s teaching and a reflection on the Clemson family in the visual arts.

Sense of Place: Picturing West Greenville Exhibit
April 3 – July 28 • 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Center for Visual Arts-Greenville, fifth floor, 1 N. Main St., Greenville

This exhibition examines the people, places and the cultural life of West Greenville in a project organized by the Center for Visual Arts- Greenville. Artists invited to participate in the project demonstrate relevant experience in creating a collection of works using environmental portraiture or storytelling. The goal of the project was to build community, convey and bring together a significant exhibit meant to honor West Greenville residents and the surrounding community. The artists selected to participate in the project and exhibit are Dawn Roe of Asheville, North Carolina, and Winter Park, Florida; Dustin Chambers of Atlanta; Kathleen Robbins of Columbia; and Leon Alesi of Asheville and Austin, Texas. Works in this exhibition are not for sale as they are part of the CVA Art Collection. No lectures or receptions are planned for this exhibition.

SmART Series Seminar 7 with Jeffrey Baykal-Rollins
April 3 • 5:30–6:30 p.m.
1-100 Lee Hall

Jeffrey Baykal-Rollins is an American multimedia artist and educator now based in the greater New York City area after living in Istanbul for more than a decade. His “art as social practice,” combines drawing with performance, alternative education, institutional critique and cultural studies.

Two Cents: BFA Senior Exhibit
April 17–26 • 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday • Lee Gallery
Reception: April 21, 6-8 p.m. • Lee Gallery
Artist talks: April 21, 6:30–7 p.m. • Lee Gallery

Artists explore how humans relate to themselves, experience the world, and examine their history. Two Cents is an exhibit of works by graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts students in the disciplines of drawing, painting and photography.

A Sense of Place: Clemson • Drawings and Watercolors by James F. Barker
April 24–Oct. 11 • 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Dean’s Gallery • 101 Strode Tower

As an architecture student, alumnus, dean, president emeritus and now professor of architecture, James F. Barker gives a unique perspective. His exhibit captures a sense of community that portrays a richness, depth and love for the Clemson campus. Reception to be announced at a later date.

Spring Ceramics Studio Sale and CSArt Share Pick Up
April 26, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. • Lee Gallery Hallway

Student ceramic work will be on sale in the Lee Gallery Hallway for purchase. In addition, Community Support Art (CSArt) spring 2017 shareholders are invited to the annual CSArt Pick Up to receive their shares and celebrate another successful semester of student artwork.

CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY

Pliable Instance: Paintings by Todd McDonald
On view until March 28
8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Center for Visual Arts–Greenville, fifth floor, 1 N. Main St.

Through abstractions of architectural structures, Todd McDonald’s images explore the contemporary visual rhetoric where the virtual and material collide. Throughout history, painting is used as a vehicle to describe spaces and locations that do not actually exist. Now society is confronted with new digital tools that are shaping the character of visual culture.

Foundations I: Department of Art Student Exhibit
On view until April 17 • 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday • CAAH Dean’s Gallery
101 Strode Tower

The Foundations exhibit features students who have completed the Foundation level studio courses in the department of art at Clemson. The showcase is a reflection of explorations with visual expression and problem-solving.

Gathering Lines: Drawings by Kathleen Thum
On view until April 27 • 1–5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Brooks Center Lobby Showcase

Kathleen Thum’s exhibition of drawings, paintings, collages and large-scale wall installations abstractly reference pipeline infrastructures to bring awareness and a visual presence of our society’s dependence on petroleum.

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“Stories on My Back,” an installation by Clemson Master of Fine Arts (MFA) alumnus Richard Alexander Lou, ’86 will open the 2016-17 season in the Center for Visual Arts – Lee Gallery on Aug. 22 and run until Oct. 13.  On Friday, Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m., the artist will give an artist talk about his work with a reception to follow in the gallery.

Lou was born and grew up in San Diego, CA with a biracial family, which was spiritually and intellectually guided by an anti-colonialist Chinese father and a culturally affirming Mexicana mother. After earning his bachelor’s degree in San Diego, CA, Lou continued his education at Clemson University, citing a handwritten note from the Chair of the Department of Art, a tradition that is still practiced today, as the decisive factor that led him to choose Clemson out of almost one hundred potential graduate schools. Lou has exhibited internationally and has over 30 years’ experience teaching in higher education, 20 years as an arts administrator most recently serving as Chair of the Department of Art at University of Memphis in Memphis, TN.

He has been invited back to campus to showcase his traveling multimedia installation that combines photography, found objects and sound walls of tamale husks. The artist writes, “As a contemporary image-maker I am interested in collecting dissonant ideas and narratives, allowing them to bump into each other, to coax new meanings and possibilities that dismantle the hierarchy of images. The work serves as an ideological, social, political and cultural matrix from which I understand my place in this world and to make a simple marking of the cultural shifts of my community.”

“Stories on My Back” art installation was featured in the recently released book, The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Popular Culture by Guisela Latorre, PhD, as a reference to the increasing proliferation of Lantina/o culture in modern American popular culture.

This innovative art collaboration with Richard A. Lou, ’86 is part of the Center for Visual Art’s commitment to support the 2020 ClemsonForward strategic plan to provide educational activities to attract and retain outstanding students by “providing an exceptional educational experience grounded in engagement.” In addition, Richard collaborated with four other artists, three of whom are Clemson University alumni: Chere Labbe Doiron, Jo Carol Mitchell-Rogers ’87, Robert Spencer ’86 and Chris Wallace ’86.

The Center for Visual Arts-Lee Gallery at Clemson University will be open for this exhibit 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. It is located in 1-101 Lee Hall, 323 Fernow St. The exhibition, artist talks and reception are free to the public because of the generous support given to the Center for Visual Arts. For more information about exhibitions in the Lee Gallery, as well as other Center for Visual Arts galleries and venues, visit www.clemson.edu/cva.

CLEMSON — Clemson University visual art students will be on full display this spring in the Clemson University Center for Visual Art’s (CVA) gallery spaces.

The second half of the semester features a calendar full of student exhibitions. Both Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduating students present a comprehensive show of work weeks prior to graduation. These exhibits are a special time for visual art students, allowing them to reflect on the transformational experience Clemson has provided and choose pieces that best personify the student’s creative achievements.

BFA senior exhibits and MFA thesis exhibits showcase the culmination of year-long research endeavors. Visual Arts students go through a series of critiques aimed at helping build a body of work of the students’ choosing. The public is invited to join the conversation by attending the artist talks, followed by the artists’ receptions. Join the CVA this spring to see the next generation of art in bloom.

Diminishing Connections (MFA)
March 25, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.,Lee Gallery

Our existence is experienced through the container of the body and how that relates to others and the world around us. M.J. King investigates this existence through one’s physical embodiment, studying surface of skin and relationships. Looking to the state of being or having been, the body becomes a vessel and a need to preserve that memory and connection emerges. Mary Cooke examines the relationship between humans and nature experienced within the domestic realm. Her labyrinthine amalgamation of manufactured nature and domestic signifiers leads viewers on a circuitous journey through the familiar but unnatural.

Artist Talks and Reception
March 25, 6–8 p.m.

On the Way/Far and Away (MFA)
March 28–April 1, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Lee Gallery

This solo exhibition of MFA thesis work by En Iwamura features a walk-in installation of large-scale ceramic sculptures and drawings that explore interrelated themes of an epic journey. Layered elements of Japanese gardens and theater, as well as Manga and popular culture, combine to heighten the impression of a distant and vast unfamiliar world.

Artist Talks and Reception
April 1, 6-8 p.m.

Inside Out (BFA)
April 4–8, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Lee Gallery

Daily we explore the balance of our inner and outward selves. We interact with our outer surroundings and come in touch with our inner presence. These relationships draw oneself in to explore the intimacy and harmony between interactions, nature and our own. Through drawing, painting, ceramics and photo we have chosen to research these relationships and what type of imprint they will make. Exhibiting artists include Laddie Neil, Alisha Petersen, Summer Stanley, Emily Tucker and Simone Wilson.

Artist Talks and Reception
April 8, 6–8 p.m.

Sempiternal Flesh (BFA)
April 11–15, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Lee Gallery

Flesh is finite, lacking and conditional by nature, though it desires preservation. Human beings share a longing to know what might change if we experience our own flesh in a state of divine sempiternity. As we search for this existence, we encounter the barriers of our temporal flesh and natural tendencies to alleviate realities in perverse behaviors. We, as artists, intend to translate these ideologies to viewers in a way that is relatable, but not necessarily comforting. Allowing the viewer to concoct an individual conclusion is where beauty begins incubation. Exhibiting artists include Libby Davis, Jessie Helmrich, David Lamm, Lexi Mathis.

Artist Talks and Reception
April 15, 6–8 p.m.

Turn it Up to Eleven (BFA)
April 11–15, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Acorn Gallery

An alternative approach to storytelling, Turn it Up to Eleven combines narrative with a critique of contemporary culture. Through a nuanced cast of characters in a fictional setting, the collection offers voyeuristic insight into the grit and glamour of the music industry. A look into the world of these imaginary musicians reveals a lifestyle that has only three rules: Make it passionate. Make it heavy. Turn it up to 11. Work by Victoria Watkins.

Artist Talks, April 15, 6–6:30 p.m., Lee Gallery
Reception, April 15, 6:30–8 p.m., Acorn Gallery

Embrace.Exchange.Connect. (BFA)
April 18–22, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Lee Gallery

As artists we are embracing the simplest aspects of life, exchanging ideas across cultures and communities, and connecting people through our work. By taking forgotten moments into our studio practices and elevating them, we are directing focus to the overlooked; embracing the mundane and bringing it to the forefront of the mind. Through an array of disciplines, we encompass these concepts and individually interpret them. Participating artists include Parker Barfield, Caitlin Gurley-Cullen, Rachel Rinker, Torrean Smith and Ella Wesly.

Artist Talks and Reception
April 22, 6–8 p.m.

The exhibition, artist talks and reception are free to the public because of the support given to the Center for Visual Arts.

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The Center for Visual Arts
The Center for Visual Arts (CVA) at Clemson University is where students, visitors and scholars explore contemporary perspectives in art and culture through research, outreach programming and studio practice. With a mission to engage and render visible the creative process, the CVA is a dynamic intellectual and physical environment where art is created, exhibited and interpreted. It educates through academic research and practice with art at its core, drawing upon varied disciplines to examine critically cultural issues and artistic concerns.