"Making Their Mark"

Six artists explore the possibilities of drawing

Cory Peeke | Director, Nightingale Gallery
(541) 962-3584 | cpeeke@eou.edu

23 September 2008

LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) - The Nightingale Gallery at Eastern Oregon University will present, "Making Their Mark," an exhibition featuring six artists from throughout the United States who explore the possibilities of traditional and experimental drawing.

The show opens Friday, Oct. 3 with a reception from 6-8 p.m. in the gallery located in Loso Hall. The exhibition will run through Friday, October 24. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Making Their Mark" will present a selection of drawings from David Bowen, of Minnesota, Jason Bronner, of Pennsylvania, Hollis Hammonds, of Texas, Deborah Rockman, of Michigan, and Matthew Hopson-Walker and Elizabeth Leger, both of California. All six artists explore the many possibilities of traditional and experimental drawing.

"Drawing has been a significant artistic practice for centuries, but the definition of what constitutes a drawing has become increasingly more fluid in a contemporary world," said Cory Peeke, Nightingale Gallery director. "Drawing continues to inspire experimentation and innovation; it embraces the traditional practice of charcoal on paper as well as experimental approaches that include digital technology and installation, to name just two."

"The Nightingale Gallery is very pleased to present the work of these artists and to encourage an ongoing discussion about the significance of drawing as a medium as well as the experimental possibilities it presents," Peeke said. "Each artist's distinct work makes for an exhibit that is both visually and psychologically stimulating."

David Bowen works in kinetic installation and engineers devices that are set in motion to create drawings based on their interaction with individuals and the space they occupy. Bowen received his master of fine arts degree from the University of Minnesota and is currently an assistant professor of art at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Jason Bronner uses both traditional and experimental media in the creation of his drawings, which explore the dog as archetype, as both sentry and savage and how the one subject can represent both of these opposing states. He received his master of fine arts degree from the University of Florida and currently teaches drawing and digital design at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.

Hollis Hammond's installation works involve drawing on vinyl with markers. Her wall installations of cutout or shaped drawings document a collection of personal experiences using everyday representations to denote the importance of the individual. Hammonds holds a master of fine arts degree in drawing from the University of Cincinnati and is currently an assistant professor of art and the director of the Art Exhibit Program at St. Edward's University in Austin, Tex.

Matthew Hopson-Walker's work includes traditional media such as charcoal and chalk pastel, but he also infuses less traditional elements such as spray paint and fabric dyes. He creates works that tell ambiguous stories of social interaction in a form very reminiscent of fairytales or parables. He received his master of fine arts degree from the University of Iowa and is an instructor of drawing and printmaking at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Ca.

Elizabeth Leger's chaotic and fragmented charcoal and graphite works present the human body in bits and pieces and are very much about the process of drawing as well as the random nature of memory. She holds a master of fine arts degree in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and is currently an adjunct professor at the California College of the Arts in Oakland, Ca.

Deborah Rockman's works from her "Losing Sleep" series use a combination of digital drawing and found images suspended on sheets of acrylic medium to explore the abuse and neglect of children in our culture and the transgenerational nature of that phenomenon. She holds a master of fine arts degree from the University of Cincinnati and is a professor of art at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Rockman is the first woman and youngest person to be awarded the rank of full professor in the history of Kendall College. In addition to her teaching and creative work, she has also authored two books, "The Art of Teaching Art" and "Drawing Essentials," both published by Oxford University Press.

All of the artists featured in "Making Their Mark" have exhibited nationally, received various awards and their work is represented in the collections of universities and museums throughout the nation.

In conjunction with this exhibit, Hollis Hammonds will present a public slide lecture on Wednesday, October 1 at 6 p.m. in Zabel Hall, Room 142. The presentation is free and open to the public.

For more information call the gallery at (541) 962-3667 visit http://www.eou.edu/art/nightingale/exhibition0809/GallerySchedule2008-09.html. To request images of artwork for publication or to schedule an interview with the artists contact Peeke at cpeeke@eou.edu.

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