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The MTSU Department of Art's Todd Art Gallery plays host to In/finite Earth September 16-October 1, 2014. The university is participating as one stop on a nationwide tour of artists organized by the VSA to showcase its Emerging Artist Program. This program now in its twelfth year opens its Murfreesboro stay with a reception September 15, 5-7 p.m.
The VSA, the International Organization on Arts and Disabilities was founded by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith in 1974 and strives to discover and recognize young artists living with disabilities while also working to create equal access and equal opportunities for them. Merged with Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2011 this year's exhibit showcases 15 artists ages16-25 for the purpose of boosting their emerging careers while also providing the public with eighteen fine juried works of art.
The artists showcased in In/Finite Earth do not allow their disabilities to handicap their lives, but rather embrace their differences and employ them through to their art. They incorporate their thoughts, feelings, character, and style through their improvisations and manipulations. These aspects build matchless, creative techniques based on a wide variety of unique, aesthetic values such as symmetrical and geometrical design, curvature, contrast, values, textures, and intricate details which ultimately aid in conveying a portal of communication through their works; between them and their audience.
The exhibit promotes their diversity and their success over one's adversity, and this can be seen in the abundance of original mediums, including traditional photography, paint, pastel, ceramics, and digital photography; while also branching out to the less frequent; screen prints, archival ink jet prints, stoneware, and work designed of wood, epoxy resin, and fiber glass.
The artists participating include: Chris Willcox, Kriston Gibbs, Kristi Beisecker, Aj Kiel, Dallas Looman, Kristi Neilson, Benazir Torres, Haylee Fucini-Lenkey, Sarah Langsam, Westley Cedeno, Mary Datta, Emilie Gossiaux, LeAndrea Mitchell, and Madalyne Marie Hymas.
In/finite Earth is a good fit with MTSU as an exhibit as it reiterates the innovative training of Art Faculty from Art Education, Art History, and Foundations of Art, to Graphic Design and Studio Art while also reaffirming MTSU's core values of support for diversity and creativity.
In addition to support from MTSU, the John F. Kennedy Center, and VSA, the Volkswagen Group of America provided funding to make this exhibit possible.
All Todd Art Gallery exhibits, receptions, and lectures are free and open to the public. The gallery is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. closing only for federal, state, and university holidays and exhibit installations. For visitor information including directions, parking, and other questions contact 615-898-5653 or eric.snyder@mtsu.edu.
