Some places on Samford’s campus draw students every day, while others are less frequented despite what they have to offer. One of these places is the Samford Art Gallery, located in Swearingen Hall.
“The Gallery operates within the Department of Art and Design,” Gallery Director Lauren Evans said. “It serves not only art students, but the wider campus community and the broader art community around Samford.”
Several different exhibitions have been displayed in the Gallery, from curated thematic displays to professional and student work. This semester, the Gallery is hosting the exhibition titled “In-dwelling” by artist Marc Chagall. “In-dwelling” is a series of lithographic prints that depict passages and stories throughout Scripture. The exhibition was distributed by Sandra Bowden, a Christian collector and curator of art.
“Bowden is an advocate for Christians in the arts,” Associate Professor Haelim Allen said. “She really is quite generous in allowing this collection to be shown on campus, and we are all very grateful for her.”
In response to this semester’s display, Samford intends its next exhibition to be focused on a response to Chagall’s work.
“Our exhibition that opens at the beginning of next semester will be a group of Samford faculty who, across disciplines, will create artworks in response to this exhibition,” Evans said. “These disciplines include English, Architecture, Theatre, Design, and more.”
The Art Gallery, though, is not merely a professional gathering of exhibitions. There is also an annual student exhibition, overseen every year by a guest juror. This year’s juror will be Sandra Bowden herself.
“She’s the collector who owns this artwork,” Evans said. “And so she will serve as the juror and select the artwork that is included in that show.”
Submissions are open to every Samford student, not just Art or Design majors.
“All submissions must be work made within an art class at Samford,” Evans said. “So even if you’re a history major, and you take a drawing class, you could submit to it.”
Students interested in submitting artwork should follow the submission process on the official Art Gallery website or contact Lauren Evans directly at mailto:levans4@samford.edu. However, students do not have to be artists themselves to engage with the Gallery. Visiting its exhibitions offers an opportunity to encounter new perspectives and appreciate the creativity represented across Samford’s campus.
“Our imagination, and creativity stems from God’s image,” Allen said. “And that’s part of His Imago Dei—that we also exhibit and celebrate His image through creative expression.”
Staff Reporter
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