Every two years, the Ewing Gallery presents the Artists in Residence Biennial Exhibition.
The current run features the work of four different artists who have come to teach at UT over the past four semesters. The exhibit is on display until Feb. 21.
These artists teach the students painting and drawing and give them a different view on art stemming from their roots all over the country, exposing various forms of art from areas other than Knoxville. This program of artists coming to UT to teach started 26 years ago, Ewing Gallery director Sam Yates said.
When this program first formed at UT, most of the artists who came to teach were from New York City and thus brought the students a broader view of what was happening in one of the cities in the U.S. where art is important to the general public.
Now they come from all areas of the United States, and most are relatively young in their professional careers. In that way, they can relate a little more to the students.
Preston Sangster, junior in music education, is excited about the opportunity this exhibit brings to South Knoxville.
“I think it’s great that the university brings artists from all over to our campus,” Sangster said. “It’s a great way to keep the university on the cutting edge of modern art, as well as bring some much-needed culture to the students.”
Ben Karnes, sophomore in business logistics, said, “It exposes students to world-class teaching that they normally wouldn’t get to enjoy. It’s another way to round our overall education.”
The first artist in this exhibit taught fall 2008, the second in spring 2009, the third in fall 2009 and the fourth is teaching this semester.
“Students, especially students of art, are always excited about this exhibit because they get to see the art of the people who have taught them,” Yates said. “It’s a good chance for the students as well as the community to see a glimpse of what contemporary art is.”
Christopher Manning, sophomore in industrial engineering, isn’t just optimistic about the wide range of art exhibited at the Ewing Gallery but also about the opportunity it gives his peers to start out their careers.
“This is a great way for art students to experience,” Manning said. “(Students) connect with artists from around the country that can influence and direct them in their future artistic careers.”
The biennial exhibition will run through Feb. 21.
