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William R. Ferris (American, b. 1942) B.B. King, Lucifer's Club, Boston, 1976Gelatin silver print9 x 13 in.Gift of William Ferris, Joel Williamson Eminent Professor of History, UNC-Chapel Hill, Davidson College Class of 1964 As soon as the list of artworks available for ArtMate was sent out, I began my hunt for the perfect piece. I made notes of about four potential artworks that I wanted in my room. It wasn’t until the day of ArtMate that I felt entirely confident in my choice. Seeing B.B. King, Lucifer's Club, Boston, in person confirmed my suspicions—this piece would fit perfectly in the little...

Russell T. Gordon (American, 1936-2013)Tulip Table, 1973Lithograph on Paper, ed.: II/XXV19.125 x 24.4375 in (48.58 x 62.07 cm)Gift of Lakeside Studio This fall, I participated in Davidson College’s annual ArtMate program, which allows students to borrow artwork from the college’s permanent collection to display in their dorms or apartments. In the weeks leading up to the selection party, the Smith Gallery exhibited the available pieces, giving students the chance to explore the works and imagine how they might transform their spaces. Before the event, I made a list of about ten artworks that captured the colorful, joyful energy I wanted...

It is no surprise that when Davidson College’s art collection began, it reflected the Eurocentric canon that has dominated art history for centuries. When first-year student Gordon Horton ‘42 organized the first-ever art exhibition on campus, the year was 1938, and the college consisted of an all-male student body, not to mention the lack of diversity among professors alike. Much like the college, the collection, in its early days during the 1950s, consisted primarily of artists who were white males.  Today, a student like Horton would not recognize the Galleries’ collection, which consists of over 4,200 works. The collection serves...

Jane Freilicher (American, 1924-2014) Rain, 1986 Lithograph on paper 28.9375 x 22 in. (73.5 x 55.88 cm) Gift of Jules Sherman Family I was drawn to this piece during the ArtMate selection event because of its unique combination of nature and abstraction. Jane Freilicher employs color and line to delineate abstracted forms that suggest a natural landscape. This piqued my interest as it allows the viewer to construct their own interpretation of the visual content. The title Rain evokes the presence of a storm, and draws attention to the vertical and horizontal movement of line throughout the piece. Freilicher began her...

Andreas Feininger (American/French, 1906-1999), Hudson River Waterfront at Midtown, 1945. Gelatin silver print. 30 x 40 in (76.2 x 101.6 cm), framed 32 x 42 in. (81.28 x 106.68 cm), Gift of Chester J. Straub. Located at E. Craig Wall Jr. Academic Center - 2nd Floor. Born in 1906 in Paris, Andreas Feininger became one of the world’s most celebrated photographers. Trained as an architect in Germany, he developed a fascination with structure and form that shaped his photographic style, especially in architectural and industrial subjects. After emigrating to New York at the onset of WWII, he established his own firm and...