Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

At the intersection of body and machine lies the question of autonomy; who ultimately is in control? My artwork aims to explore the nature of this intimate relationship and the extent to which technology has already taken over our society. Through life-sized moving sculptures with human figure references, I explore the mechanized nature of aging,…

William Tucker (British, b. 1935)Homage to Rodin, 1999BronzeGift of the Class of 1993 At first glance, Homage to Rodin seems to be just a lumpy bronze boulder sitting on a pedestal with signs of oxidation from years of enduring the elements. This is an accurate and fitting description for what was an intentional decision by…

While working on a small farm in Ferrum, Virginia last summer, I consumed solely organic products and foods, and immersed myself in the land through regenerative agriculture and sustainable land practices. This fundamentally altered the way I interpreted my artistic practice and ignited a switch in my material choices from paint and digital collages to…

I have spent much of my life on, in and under the Ocean’s surface in many places around the world. During the course of this journey I have found that, in my quest to study and really understand the myriad ecosystems that exist beneath the air/water interface, I had to find a way to become…

Alice Neel (American, b. 1900)Mother and Child (Nancy and Olivia), 1982Lithograph in colors on Arches paper33.5 x 30.625 inGift of John Andrew MacMahon, ’95 Alice Neel was a New York expressionist artist, widely considered to be one of the greatest female artists of the 20th century. Born in Pennsylvania, Neel studied art at the Philadelphia…

Jen Ray (American, b. 1970)Untitled (Surrounded by Wolves), 201714.875 x 11 in.Watercolor and ink on handmade paperGallery Purchase Jen Ray’s Untitled (Surrounded by Wolves) depicts two traditionally feminine faces — just their faces, as they have no necks. These faces float on the paper, each outlined by a red and orange watercolor ring, followed by…

Curated by Sarah Zhang ’23 and Isabel Smith ’24 skies beneath my feet is a new exhibition that will be on display in the Spencer Lobby of the Chambers Academic Building starting February 10th, 2022. It centers around a spiritual connection to nature — through time, through mediums, through places. It is a return to the…

I often find myself returning to some version of the phrase, “The more you see the less you know.” The events of the last few years have cemented this: the death of my close friend, the transition out of college, and the social pressures of Instagram and Facebook. As an artist I am interested in exploring…

We are excited to announce our acquisition of Nicholas Galanin’s Dreaming in English (like our ancestors moved), one of nine monotypes created for our exhibition, Nicholas Galanin: Dreaming in English. We technically have two pieces on campus from Galanin right now: one temporary, one permanent. Unshadowed Land is a year-long outdoor work meant to transform…

Formed at the intersection of social and physical environments is community. As an overarching theme in my work, I’m fascinated by parallel developments of communities and the individuals that represent them. Connected to my personal experience, my artwork often relates to Black identity and existence. Shifting between two-dimensional and three-dimensional work, I explore moments when…

In nature, the Mangrove is a physical link between land and sea – creating a connection between two disparate landscapes while dividing them at the same time. I create large scale works of Mangroves that when displayed aim to create an overwhelming environment of images that move between creation and disruption. Growing up in Johannesburg…

Translatio Imperii, Afghanistan, 2018, 2019 Oil on paper, vintage frame, acrylic, brass7 x 8.5 inchesGallery Purchase from the Dr. Joan Huntley Art Acquisition Fund We are excited to announce the acquisition of Liên Trương’s painting Translatio Imperii, Afghanistan, 2018, that was featured in our exhibition Liên Trương: From the Earth Rise Radiant Beings this past…

David Taylor (American, born 1965) Border Monument No. 81 (2008)Archival Inkjet Print24 x 31 inchesGift of John Andrew MacMahon, Class of 1995 Rife with political tension, forgotten history, and environmental extremes, the US-Mexico border occupies a unique space physically and theoretically in the minds of many North Americans. While the media highlights the dramatic walls…

UnknownStorage AmphoraTerracotta33 inGift of James G. Pepper ’65 The Hellenistic storage amphora on display in the Guest House was donated to the Van Every/Smith Galleries in 2010 by James G. Pepper along with a truckload of other pieces of art. Amphorae are storage vessels, usually ceramic, with long, narrow necks, two handles, and pointed bases.…

Lisa Kereszi (American, born 1973)Ball Rack, Island Bowl, Governors Island, NY2003Archival pigment print, flush-mounted on Dibond30 x 37.25 inGift of John Andrew MacMahon, Class of 1995 Trashcan, Broadway Arcade, Times Square, NYC2004Archival pigment print, flush-mounted on Dibond29.5 x 37.25 inGift of John Andrew MacMahon, Class of 1995 We are fortunate to hold numerous works by…

Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit and Unangax, b. 1979)Unshadowed Land Nicholas Galanin’s exhibition, Dreaming in English, is on view at the Van Every/Smith Galleries through December 9, 2021. Over the past two decades, Galanin has worked across media, materials, and processes, engaging past, present, and future to expose widespread misappropriation and commodification of Indigenous visual culture, the impact…

Peter Doig (Scottish, b. 1959)Masquerades, 2006Giclee print on Somerset velvet enhanced 22528.75 x 24 x 1.5 inGift of Charlotte and Alan Artus Peter Doig’s magical realist composition, Masquerades, is simultaneously charming and unsettling, making it difficult to look away. What appears at first glance to be a joyous moment shared between a bride and her groom quickly…

Nicholas Galanin did not begin his talk at Davidson College with esoteric and abstract metaphors, but rather with a collection of photographs from his life in his hometown of Sitka, Alaska — images of fishing, various projects he’s working on, like a dugout canoe he is carving with his uncle and cousin, the community, and…

Harold Feinstein (American, 1931-2015)Gyro Ride at Night, Coney Island, NY, 1949Photograph7.25 x 7.25 inGift of Chester J. Straub When photographer Harold Feinstein died in 2015, the New York Times declared him “one of the most accomplished recorders of the American experience” for his collections of photographs of Coney Island. Feinstein’s career as a photographer began…

Louis Stettner (American, 1922 – 2016) Children, Aubervilliers, France, 1947 Photograph Gift of Paul B. Ford “Stettner has always been fully conscious that the role of the photographer is not to turn away from all reference to reality, but on the contrary to express a profound experience with it,” said Brassaï, the famous French photographer…

Edward Hopper (American, 1882-1967)Night Shadows, 1921Etching Regarding the lack of communication between the people in his paintings, Hopper explains “It’s probably a reflection of my own, if I must say, loneliness. I don’t know. It could be the whole human condition.” [1] Loneliness shadowed Edward Hopper and was a visibly present theme throughout his artistic…

Commemorative Site for Enslaved and Exploited People PROJECT BACKGROUND  Davidson College is a liberal arts institution dedicated to cultivating humane instincts and disciplined, creative minds. Our community touchstone is the Reformed Tradition of the Presbyterian Church, a tradition rooted in the belief that all lives are valuable, equal, and deserving of dignity.  Founded in the…

McKendree Robbins Long (American, 1888-1976)The First Angel Sounds his Trumpet, 1968Oil on canvas14 x 49 inGift of Milton Bloch McKendree Robbins Long was born not far from Davidson in Statesville, NC in July of 1888. He completed two years of school at Davidson College before beginning his art education in 1908 at the Art Students…

Liên Trương’s artist talk on September 9th, 2021 about her exhibition Liên Trương: From the Earth Rise Radiant Beings was a whirlwind. I furiously took notes as she weaved together histories, art styles, and conceptions of war and life and loss. It was almost haunting to be surrounded by the years of collected stories of…

Mitch Epstein (American, born 1952)Poca High School and Amos Coal Power Plant, West VirginiaGift of John Andrew MacMahon, Class of 1995 On view in the Belk Visual Art Center The tension is palpable between two juxtaposed worlds stitched together at the horizon. A lighthearted candid shot of a high school football game is quickly threatened…

Mickalene ThomasAfro Goddess with Hand Between Legs, 2006Chromogenic print 48 x 60 inchesOn loan from the Collection of Moses Luski On view in True Likeness until Sunday, March 28th. Please note: All buildings on campus, including the Van Every/Smith Art Galleries are only open to Davidson students, faculty and staff due to the pandemic. Exploring intersections…