A month-long exhibit at the UA Museum of Art aims to connect art students to the work of their school’s faculty.
The museum is holding an exhibition of art by faculty members from the UA School of Art, which will run from Sept. 19 to Nov. 4. The exhibition’s reception is scheduled for this Friday.
Associate professor of art Gary Setzer is one of several professors whose work will be on display. Setzer’s video, “Literally Reaching,” is part of a series of four pieces that delve into the “problems and delights” of interpersonal communication.
“This is an important show for students,” Setzer said. “It lets students see what the faculty are doing.”
The biennial exhibition has had an impact on some of the students who view it, serving as a deciding factor for some students’ career paths.
“Seeing the faculty exhibition four years ago made me apply to art school,” said Alexis Walters, a visual communications senior. “I saw so many beautiful things and really wanted to get to know the people who made [them] … If the things they made were beautiful, they had to be, too.”
Hannah Jones, a senior studying art and visual culture education, said she believes exhibitions like this one are integral to being not only an effective teacher, but also an effective artist.
“Having teachers who are actively learning and engaging in the modern art world are more able to teach us,” Jones said. “They know what’s current.”
Carol Petrozzello, marketing specialist for the museum, said she is enthusiastic about this year’s exhibition and has seen positive reactions so far.
“It’s been well received … People look forward to this,” she said, adding that the artists involved “experiment with using traditional media in new ways.”
Pieces in the exhibit include paintings, sculptures, video art and interactive works from teachers in every sector of the School of Art. Seeing the exhibition, Setzer said, can serve as a source of inspiration for art students.
“If you see that the teacher is really passionate about what they are teaching, it can be a really transformative experience,” he said.
The UA School of Art Faculty Exhibition will hold its reception in the museum from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 27. The exhibition is free for students, UA faculty, and active military with ID.
