October 25, 2012
“Animalier: The Animal in Contemporary Art,” an exhibition of art focusing on the animal form, is sponsored by the Studio Art Program at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and will run from Nov. 2 to Dec. 2, at the Graceful Arts Center in downtown Alva.
Admission to the gallery, opening reception, film screening and curator's lecture is free and open to the public.
The show is curated by Brandice Guerra, assistant professor of art.
An art critic first used the term "animalier" as a derisive title for the 19th century sculptor of animal bronzes, Antoine-Louis Barye. The epithet was in keeping with the use of animal names as terms of reproach. The term gradually lost its original contemptuous intention and is now used specifically to describe 19th century animal sculptors and broadly to describe any artist who chooses to focus on the animal form. The description of animals, whether symbolic or scientific, has been a concern of artists since the dawn of recorded history.
This exhibition is intended to present a variety of approaches to the concepts concerning the representation of animals in contemporary artistic practice.
An opening reception is planned for Nov. 2, from 6-8 p.m. as part of First Friday Art Walk activities. Light refreshments will be served. That evening, the Studio Art Program also will play host to a free screening of Jean-Jacques Annaud's 1988 French language film, The Bear, in the Graceful Arts rear studio (parental discretion is advised). An informational lecture by Guerra on the history and symbolism of animals in art is planned for Nov. 14, at 5:30 p.m. in the Graceful Arts gallery. Sixty-nine artists from 12 countries and 19 states submitted 127 works for consideration. The exhibition will contain 27 works from 21 artists in six countries and seven states.
Graceful Arts Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact Guerra at beguerra@nwosu.edu with questions about the show.
For questions about the Graceful Arts Gallery and Studios, contact Kay Decker, gallery director, at kldecker@nwosu.edu.
-NW-