Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Seen in Storage: Artist’s Rights Today
Robert Rauschenberg (American, 1925-2008) Artist’s Rights Today, 1981 Embossed lithograph on paper 39.5 x 27 in Gift of Carol Quillen, 18th President of Davidson College, and George McLendon Robert Rauschenberg is a prolific painter, sculptor, and graphic artist who attended the iconic Black Mountain College in Asheville, NC. Under the instruction of Joseph Albers, a…
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Mary Nell Todd ’24| hue
On view: March 13-17, 2024 Reception: Wednesday, March 13, 4:30-5:30 p.m Mary Nell Todd is working to complete her final year of Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art at Davidson College. She has been developing an artistic practice in painting with India Ink, watercolor, and oil paint. She spent her past summer working at the…
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Alumni Highlight – Perry Levine ’15
During my sophomore year, I had the privilege of participating in a hands-on Art History seminar that provided students with the opportunity to make acquisition decisions for the Van Every/Smith Galleries. During the seminar, we had the pleasure of meeting with esteemed alumni who have made their mark in the arts. One of these alumni…
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Seen On Campus: Elijah Gowin ’90
Elijah Gowin ’90 (American, b. 1967)Into the Sun 40, 2009Archival pigment printGift of Malú Alvarez, Class of 2002 Since time immemorial, humans have recognized the sun as a creative force. We know warmth because of it. Flowers grow towards it, even the smallest ones. Fixed on a set course, our sun spins days and nights…
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Claire Begalla ’24 | Unbound
On view: December 8-13, 2023 Reception: December 8, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Encompassing photography, printmaking, and animation, Claire Begalla’s works visually explore the manipulation of the human figure and its dynamic relationship with the surrounding landscape. Born in DeLand Florida, they will receive their Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Digital Screen Media Studies from Davidson…
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Seen in Storage: AIDS Pyramid
On the eve of World AIDS Day, December 1st, we are taking a look back at one of the many works in our collection surrounding the AIDS crisis. Carl Tandatnick (American, b. 1956)AIDS Pyramid, 2015Serigraph on paper26 x 37in.Gift of the Artist Upon first glance, AIDS Pyramid looks like a simple repetition of the same…
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Seen on Campus: Hellen van Meene
In Dutch photographer Hellen van Meene’s Untitled #68, a woman appears to sleep inside a couch. Eyes closed, her face looks tired yet tense, like she is caught up in a bad dream. The work plays with visibility; the woman is illuminated by light, but the cushions balance on top of her like they are…
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“A Crack In the Hourglass, An Ongoing COVID-19 Memorial” by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (born Mexico City, 1967). Documentation of memorial for Manuel Felguérez Barra in “A Crack in the Hourglass,” 2020–ongoing. Sand, glass, robotic platform, cameras, computers, OpenFrameworks software, lights, anodized aluminum base, 3-D–printed polymer head, electronic circuit, tubes, funnels, plastic valves, website. Courtesy of Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo. © Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. (Photo: Courtesy of the…
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Seen On Campus: Andrea Eis
Andrea Eis (American, b. 1952)Antigone and Kreon47 x 32.5 inDiptych, archival pigment prints on cotton rag mounted on aluminumGift of Van Hillard, Davidson College Professor of Rhetoric and Writing Emeritus The torso is the true abode of the mind. That is, according to the Ancient Greeks; (φρήν/phrḗn) may be translated as “mind, resolve, will, heart”…
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On Loan: Ruth Asawa’s Untitled (S. 152)
Ruth Asawa (American, 1926-2013)Untitled (S. 152), 1962Copper wireOn loan from the collection of Michael ’85 and Alison Hall Mauzé ‘84 Ruth Asawa, born in 1926 to Japanese immigrants, started life in California as the middle child of seven. Her parents were farmers, and she started working on the farm before and after school at the…
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Friends of the Arts Reception and Open House
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Davidson College’s Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center, we embark on a year-long reflection, aimed at both honoring our past and the folks who helped shape our community, as well as imagining our future impact on the visual arts on campus and regionally. Davidson College Friends of…
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Seen on Campus: Joyce Tenneson’s “Calla Lilies”
Joyce Tenneson (American, b. 1945)Calla Lilies, 2020 23 x 18 inchesArchival pigment printGift of Scott and Carla MacLeod As you enter Chambers on your way to class, you might be in too much of a rush to notice the newly displayed artworks in the halls. However, as I left class (in less of a rush…
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Seen on Campus: Eye on Door, Spook-A-Rama, Coney Island, Pennsylvania
Lisa Kereszi (American, b. 1973)Eye on Door, Spook-A-Rama, Coney Island, Pennsylvania, 2007 30 x 40 inArchival pigment printGift of John Andrew MacMahon, Class of 1995 Lisa Kereszi’s Eye on Door, Spook-A-Rama, Coney Island, Pennsylvania is an everyday-eerie look at the reality of the escapist fantasy of haunted houses. The photograph depicts green double doors at…
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PROFS TALK ART: Dr. Scott Denham
For our next installment of “Profs Talk Art,” we talked to Dr. Scott Denham, the chair of the German Studies Department. His research interests include German literary and cultural studies, translation, and questions of identity, loss and memory in the central European context. Dr. Denham talked about Käthe Kollwitz’s lithograph Verbruderung, as well as Georgia…
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Seen in My Room: Corporate Sludge (Blue)
DENIALCorporate Sludge (Blue)24 x 18 in.4-color screenprint on 300 gsm French fine art paper This is my second year participating in ArtMate. Last year, I went for a big name when choosing my work. I have always been a fan of Andy Warhol, so to have his polaroid Crosses in my sophomore year dorm was…
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Interns Spotlight
Meet our team of amazing interns at the Van Every/Smith Art Galleries on campus. Caroline Sillars Caroline is a Senior Art History Major from New Orleans, Louisiana. This is her third year working in the galleries. Her favorite events on campus are the sculpture tours, which she often leads. Caroline says that Gustav Klimt’s The…
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PROFS TALK ART: Dr. Dave Wessner
For this installment of “Profs Talk Art,” we talked to Dr. Dave Wessner, a Biology Professor whose work focuses on HIV/AIDS education and researching viral pathogenesis. He looked at Canadian artist Shan Kelley’s Disclosures, a three-work series of needle-perforated parchment and printed paper. Watch the video here (subtitles available). What do you think of this…
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Campus Sculptures: Windows in the Bubble
Most liberal arts colleges tend to be accused of being bubbles with a designed separation from the world; to protect from the harshness of “real life” and offer a safe space to test out ideas. But this also entails that one could easily carry out their day to day lives at these colleges without any…
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PROFS TALK ART: Dr. Pasero-O’Malley
For our next installment of “Profs Talk Art,” we talked to Dr. Anthony Pasero-O’Malley, former Visiting Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies. His current research focuses on contemporary Spanish and Latinx theatre for social change. Dr. Pasero-O’Malley talked about Regina José Galindo’s Extensión. Watch the video here (subtitles available). What do you think of this work?…
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Seen In My Room: Zizou
Case JerniganZizouRisograph on paper17 x 11 in. I saw it and I knew it. This was the artwork that I wanted in my room. It took me quite some time to actually place why I had loved this work so much. I liked doodles and comics but I am completely disinterested in wrestling or soccer…
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Pious Performance: Cunningham Theatre Exhibition
Gallery interns Sarah Willoughby ’25 and Rory Mullis ’26 recently curated an exhibition for the lobby of the Cunningham Theatre building on campus. Religion is a performance. A performance of faith, of identity, and of culture. This performance can be used as an imposing force on others, or a way of expressing yourself and your…
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“With These Hands”: Davidson Reconciles with a History of Exploitation and Enslavement
In an effort to reconcile Davidson College’s history with slavery, the college has enlisted artist Hank Willis Thomas to create a monumental sculpture called With These Hands. Developed with the help of the architects at Perkins & Will, the work strives to honor the exploited hands of the enslaved laborers who created some of the…
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New Acquisition: No More Q and A
Mark Thomas Gibson (American, b. 1980)No More Q and A, 2020Ink on paper22 x 30 in.Gift of John Andrew MacMahon ’95 It is hard for the eyes to focus when looking at Mark Thomas Gibson’s No More Q and A. This cartoon-style drawing features a chaotic tumble of arms and legs that create a blurry,…
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Alumni Highlight – Caroline Yarbrough ’19
Meet Caroline Yarbrough ‘19, who was a dedicated member of the cross country and track and field teams throughout her four years in college. Now, she is an Associate Cataloguer in the Contemporary Department at Sotheby’s, one of the world’s most renowned auction houses. What might seem like a significant career shift to some, Caroline…
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PROFS TALK ART: Dr. Laurian Bowles
This week, we got to talk to Dr. Laurian Bowles for our second installment of “Profs Talk Art,” the series where Davidson professors talk about works in the collection of Van Every/Smith Galleries through the lens of their discipline. Dr. Bowles is the Chair of the Anthropology department. Her work in Africana Studies and Cultural…
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Meredith Iodice ’23 | Little One
On view: April 13th-21st, 2023 Reception: Friday, April 14th, 4:30pm Artist Statement: “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” ~Rachel WolchinEver Since I was six years old, my family has taken a yearly trip to a different country. We wouldn’t do guided tours or get a private…
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New Acquisition: Joyce Tenneson’s “Untitled (From Still Life)”
Joyce Tenneson (American, b. 1945)Untitled (From “Still Life”), 1995-2000Color instant print (Polaroid)29.875 x 22 in.Gift of Scott and Carla MacLeod Joyce Tenneson’s series “Still Life” is very simple: still life objects, but planted in an ethereal world. The bust of a man, now robed in linen, looks other-worldly, heaven-like. One can’t tell how Tenneson got…
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EXPOSURE: UNCOVERING THE PRIVATE SPACE — New Exhibition in Spencer Lobby of Chambers Building
Irina Ionesco (Nu à la fourrure, ca. 1970Gelatin silver print11.75 x 8.25 in.Gift of Bradly M. Olson EXPOSURE: UNCOVERING THE PRIVATE SPACE is a new exhibition that will be on display in the Spencer Lobby of the Chambers Academic Building starting March 13th, 2023. The exhibition thinks through questions like: What does it mean to…
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New Acquisition: Lying in Colors
Karel Appel (Dutch, 1921-2006)Lying in Colors, no date21.5 x 29.5 inLithograph on PaperGift of Carol Quillen, 18th President of Davidson College, and George McLendon Lying in Colors by Karel Appel is a vibrant and captivating piece that immediately draws the viewer’s attention. The painting is bursting with bold colors, shapes, and textures, creating a sense…
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PROFS TALK ART: Dr. Ann Fox
We’ve started a new series, “Profs Talk Art,” where Davidson professors talk about works in our collection through the lens of their discipline. Our first guest, Dr. Ann Fox, is an English professor who specializes in 20th- and 21st-century dramatic literature and disability studies. She has published over two dozen articles on drama, disability, and…
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Natalie Hall ’23 | While You Were
On view: March 29th-April 6th, 2023 Reception: Wednesday, March 29th, 4:30-5:30pm Natalie Hall is pursuing a BS in psychology and a BA in studio art. Her current body of work explores appropriation in art and its growing relevance in a media-saturated world. She is primarily focused on exploring when one work of art becomes something new,…
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Alumni Highlight: Jessica Ruhle ’03
This week, gallery intern Sarah Willoughby ’25 had the opportunity to interview Davidson College Alum Jessica Ruhle ’03. Jessica received a BA in Art History at Davidson College in 2003. After Davidson, Jessica went to graduate school at George Washington University, earning her MAT in Museum Education. In 2014, Jessica became the Director of Education…
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Jacolby Satterwhite, We Are in Hell When We Hurt Each Other
Jacolby Satterwhite (American, b.1986) We Are in Hell When We Hurt Each Other, 2020 HD virtual reality video with sound RT: 18:07 Jacolby Satterwhite’s We Are in Hell When We Hurt Each Other, now on display in the Van Every Gallery, is a part of his Birds in Paradise suite. Like much of Satterwhite’s works…
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New Acquisition: Bullet through Candle Flame
Harold Edgerton (American, 1903-1990)Bullet through Candle FlameDye Transfer Print20 x 16 in.Gift of John Andrew MacMahon ’95 There’s something about this piece that makes me want to reach out and touch it. Of course, if I did in real life, I would not only burn my hand from the candle, but also lose a finger…
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Laura Bullock ’23 | GOOSECHASE
On view: March 16th-24th, 2023Reception: Friday, March 24th, 4-5pm Laura Bullock (she/they) is pursuing a BA in Studio Art with a Gender and Sexuality Studies minor at Davidson College, NC. In their large-scale oil paintings, pastel drawings, and prints Bullock depicts personal hardship in a playful tone through interactions between self-portraits, idiosyncratic animals, and lively grounds.…
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New Acquisition: Sandy Skoglund’s “Maybe Babies”
Sandy Skoglund (American, b. 1946)Maybe Babies, 1983Dye transfer print30 x 37 inGift of John Andrew MacMahon, Class of 1995 Taking a first glance at this strange image, the viewer can see a number of blue and purple babies strewn about the image. Not only babies crawling and rolling on the ground, the babies are floating…
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New Acquisition: “Hook and Ribbon,” Lucas Samaras
Lucas Samaras (Greek, 1936-2024)Hook and Ribbon, 1972Silkscreen in colors on paper32 x 21.5in.Gift of John Andrew MacMahon, Class of 1995 Lucas Samaras is a Greek immigrant artist who explored themes of Surrealism and Expressionism. During his time studying at Rutgers University and Columbia University, Samaras dove into his own self-investigation. He created many self portraits…
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New Acquisition: An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo
Yasumasa Morimura, (Japanese, b. 1951)An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo (Gift 2), 2001Chromogenic Print46.5×37 in.Gift of John Andrew MacMahon, Class of 1995 An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo is a series of photographs by the renowned Japanese artist Yasumasa Morimura. This series of works pay homage to the life and work of the Mexican artist…
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Seen On Campus: Style Variation 4 (Beard)
Derrick Adams (American, b. 1970)Style Variation 4 (Beard), 2020Screen print, archival inkjet, and acrylic gloss varnish on Somerset museum eag eadiant white paper27 x 20 in.Gallery Purchase Derrick Adams is a multimedia and multi-disciplinary artist working out of Brooklyn, NY. He is known for working in a broad spectrum of mediums such as painting, collage,…
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Alumni Highlight – Alex Locke ’10
A few weeks ago, gallery intern Kaiyan Wang had the honor to interview Davidson alum Alex Locke ‘10. Alex is currently the Head of Client Strategy for the Americas in the 20th and 21st Century Art division at Christie’s. He undertakes this leadership role in one of the world’s top auction houses with years of…
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Jacolby Satterwhite, Avenue B
Jacolby Satterwhite, (American, b. 1986) Avenue B, 2018-19 2- channel HD color video and 3D animation with sound RT: 20:38 Jacolby Satterwhite’s Avenue B, now on display in the Smith Gallery, is a part of his Birds in Paradise suite. This work may be considered a posthumous collaboration with his mother, Patricia, who used creative…
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Seen on Campus: Floridawater II
Allison Janae Hamilton (American, b. 1984)Floridawater II, 2019 24 x 36 inArchival pigment print, AP 1/2Gallery Purchase from the Dr. Joan Huntley Art Acquisition Fund Floridawater II captures a murky, underwater scene in Florida’s Wacissa River. A woman — Hamilton herself — occupies the center of the photograph, draped in a white dress that the…
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Jacolby Satterwhite, Blessed Avenue
Jacolby Satterwhite (American, b.1986) Blessed Avenue, 2018 Two-channel HD color video with sound RT: 19:18 Jacolby Satterwhite’s Blessed Avenue, now on display in the Smith Gallery, is a part of his Birds in Paradise suite. This work may be considered a posthumous collaboration with his mother, Patricia, who used creative practices such as drawing and…
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Seen on Campus: Walking Blindly
Elizabeth Catlett (American, 1915-2012)Walking Blindly, 1992Lithograph15.75 x 13.5 in.Gallery Purchase Walking Blindly by Elizabeth Catlett features four figures: one, in the center, immediately catches the eye with her vibrant color, from the bright pink of her jacket and wrinkled white of her shirt to the aqua blue of her textured skirt. Her hands reach up…
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Returning Intern: Isabel Smith
Meet Isabel Smith, one of our amazing returning interns on staff at the Van Every/Smith Galleries! Isabel is a Junior at Davidson College from St. Augustine, Florida. Isabel is currently studying English and Gender and Sexuality Studies and studied abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands this past semester. Learn more about Isabel: While you were abroad, did…
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“True Likeness” Travelling Exhibition – Gregg Museum of Art and Design
Visit the “True Likeness” exhibition in its current home at the Gregg Museum of Art and Design at North Carolina State University. Originating at the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College, “True Likeness” features portraits from eighteen different artists from across the U.S. and utilizes a range of materials and media. The exhibit debuted during…
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Infinite Affinities: Cunningham Theatre Exhibition
Gallery interns Yunyue (Sarah) Zhang ’23 and Sarah Willoughby ’25 recently curated an exhibition for the lobby of the Cunningham Theater building on campus. This exhibition is in response to the Theatre Department’s upcoming play “Every Body.” Infinite Affinities Death. The word looms with darkness and fear. Similarly, Branden Jacob-Jenkins’ play Everybody that faces the…
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Returning Intern: Brown Payne
Meet Brown Payne, one of our amazing returning interns on staff at the Van Every/Smith Galleries! Brown is a Junior at Davidson College from Nashville, Tennessee. Brown is currently studying Art History, and studied abroad in Vienna, Austria this past semester and Amman, Jordan over the summer. Learn more about Brown: While you were abroad,…
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Seen On Campus: A Sweet Hell
Taken aback, that is exactly how I would describe my reaction to seeing A Sweet Hell by Trenton Doyle Hancock for the first time. In many ways, it reminded me of a nightmare from the deep dark corners of someone’s mind, terrifying figures swords and all. Serving as a backdrop to the nightmarish scene was a setting…
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Returning Intern: Caroline Sillars
Meet Caroline Sillars, one of our amazing returning interns on staff at the Van Every/Smith Galleries! Caroline is a Junior at Davidson College from New Orleans, Louisiana. Caroline is currently studying Art History, and studied abroad in Vienna, Austria this past semester. Learn more about Caroline: While you were abroad, did you see a certain…
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