Department of Art & Design hosts two exhibitions this summer

MURRAY, Ky. – The Murray State University Department of Art & Design and University Galleries are pleased to present two exhibitions this summer: Selections: Works from the Clara M Eagle Gallery Collection, an exhibition spotlighting works held in its permanent collection, and Reading Room, a solo exhibition featuring work by Murray State alumna Michelle C. Moode, ‘03. The exhibits are on view now through Thursday, June 22 in the Mary Ed Mecoy Hall Gallery and the Clara M. Eagle Gallery, both on the sixth floor of Price Doyle Fine Arts Building located on Murray State’s campus.

Selections: Works from the Clara M Eagle Gallery Collection features a sampling of two-dimensional artworks in a range of mediums from detailed traditional printmaking and etchings to digital photography and large-scale oil paintings. The 13 artists included in the exhibit are John Taylor Arms, John Baeder, Lynn Benda, Avery Crounse, Ando Hiroshige, Ellen Lanyon, D. Dominick Lombardi, James Meek, Denise A. Napoli, Gail Nixon, Roger Shimamura, Jack True and Merry Moor Winnett.

The Clara M. Eagle Gallery permanent collection, which contains over 1,200 pieces, serves as a resource to augment research and foster art experiences for students, faculty and the regional community. Recent exhibits featuring work from the collection have been curated by an individual student or co-curated by groups of students under the mentorship of T. Michael Martin, associate professor of art and the director of University Galleries.

Michelle C. Moode is a book and installation artist currently living in Kentucky. She has exhibited her work nationally, and has taught a variety of bookbinding, printmaking and drawing classes, both in university and workshop settings. Moode grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles in the 1980s, influenced from an early age by fruit trees, rose gardens, science, science fiction and arcades. Her work is informed by an interest in curation and collection, as well as a passion for growing things and wandering in the woods.

“I am grateful for the continued support of the Art & Design faculty and staff,” said Martin. "I would like to recognize the spring 2023 gallery student worker team: Beth Bailey of Murray, Kentucky, Cross Berry of Irvington, Kentucky, Isa Bolanos of Oak Grove, Kentucky, Cheyenne Pender of Bardwell, Kentucky, Skyler Pointer of Central City, Kentucky,  Gretchen Ruth of Louisville, Kentucky, Maggie Shooltz of Ballwin, Missouri and Harley Simmons of Paducah, Kentucky for their assistance with this exhibition. I acknowledge the Art & Design technician, Woody Leslie, and the student workers for assisting with the continued success of all exhibits currently on view and for helping further the educational mission of the University Galleries.”

Summer hours for the exhibit are Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Admission to the galleries is free and open to the public. For more information about the Department of Art & Design please visit murraystate.edu/art or follow them on Instagram at instagram.com/murraystateart.