Faculty showcase artwork together

By Kathryn Bergin
Collegian Editor
August 28, 2008

For the first time in the La Salle Art Museum’s history, an exhibit of work created by faculty members is being shown. Beginning on August 25, the exhibit showcases art created by the La Salle faculty. In the past, there have been Student-Faculty exhibits in the Art Museum, but this first and possibly annual exhibit is the first of its kind for the La Salle Art Museum. The professors whose artwork is being shown are not specifically professors of art at La Salle, but are exhibiting artists outside of the La Salle community.

Six professors are showing their work. Artists include: Professor of Digital Art and Multimedia Design Sandra Camomile; Director of the Digital Art program Conrad Gleber; Art History professor Laraine Heise; Digital Art professor Raymond Kirsch; Honors Program Professor David McShane; and Professor of Fine Arts Jim Williams.

The exhibit is not only unique because of the exclusive staff involvment, but because of the different types of art that are being shown together in one room. Heise submitted a Raku clay figure, while Kirsch is showing two pastel studies that were created this year.

Camomile submitted a new project that she had been working on for the past year. Camomile described this project, titled “No More Broccoli,” as “a combination of hand drawing and digital media.” Camomile said, “The subject matter includes not only studies of broccoli, but also a character I’ve developed which looks like the combination of a snow(wo)man and an ice cream cone. I’ve created a series of works around this character. I’m happy to be exhibiting two of those pieces in this exhibition, Charmed, and Sprinkles, along with six abstracted studies of broccoli.”

The faculty members are delighted to be exhibiting together. It is a great way for the La Salle community to come together through art. Heise said, “The exhibit is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate that not only do we teach art, but make art a part of our lives and profession.”

While the La Salle Faculty Art Exhibit is different from other exhibitions which these faculty members have participated in, Gleber likes the idea of faculty exhibiting at La Salle because “it’s easier to risk new approaches and to try things that might not be acceptable in mainstream galleries.”

The La Salle University Art Museum is located in the lower level of Olney Hall. It’s open Monday thru Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and most Sundays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (call ahead just to make sure). The Faculty Exhibit will run until September 7.

bergink1@lasalle.edu