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Catherine Opie (American, b.1961)Emily, Sts, & Becky, Durham, North Carolina1998Chromogenic print40 x 50 in. Gift of John MacMahon, Class of 1995 I first studied Catherine Opie’s work in relation to Laura Aguillar’s work in an environmental studies course. Both artists have made work depicting queer bodies in Los Angeles and elsewhere. I am drawn to Opie’s work due to its candid portrayals of domestic life outside of the heteronormative narrative largely promoted in fine art. When I discovered we had a print of Opie’s in our permanent collection, I was immediately intrigued.  Opie grew up in Sandusky, Ohio and later...

Happy weekend from all of us working remotely for the Van Every/Smith Galleries! we hope you are all staying healthy and safe. Here is a new intern introduction to add to your list of weekend reading. This week, meet junior Adrienne Lee! Name: Adrienne Lee Hometown: I am a nomad, but I always go back to South Korea or France. Major/Minor: Studio Art major, Neuroscience minor Why did you intern in the gallery?: I was overly thrilled to work and I remember I wanted to please Lia so badly! I was mainly curious about the behind-the-scenes 'stuff'. I say 'stuff'...

I have so enjoyed learning about my fellow interns (more to come...) but I figured it was time for me to introduce myself as the author of this series! Though my senior year was cut short in a devastating way, I have had time in quarantine to reflect on how the gallery introduced a strong passion for the art world in my own life, and I now hope to always advocate for the arts (and the Van Every/Smith!) in some capacity. Further, I will forever be grateful to Lia, Elizabeth, David, Katie, Tyler, etc. who helped make the VAC a...

This semester took many unexpected turns (for example, mandated quarantine and most of us leaving campus), but we still need to celebrate the hard work that our gallery interns put in this year. Some of them are even continuing to work for us remotely! Keep reading to get to know junior Emilie Hoke, one of the most passionate and involved art students here at Davidson. Name: Emilie Hoke Hometown: Raleigh, NC. Major/Minor?: Studio Art and Environmental Studies double major . Why did you intern in the gallery?: I love learning about art, and I wanted to gain exposure to an...

Russell T. Gordon (American, 1936-2013)Hot Dog Bridge1974Lithograph on paper17 x 17.3125 in.Gift of Lakeside Studio Hello from day seven of quarantine in Seattle! When perusing Davidson's permanent art collection, I immediately noticed Hot Dog Bridge, a colored lithograph created by Russell Gordon (American, 1936-2013). The piece offered a bright pop of color amidst the dreariness of our current pandemic situation. With its simple clouds and colorful rainbow, reminiscent of drawings from elementary school, Hot Dog Bridge pulls us away from our fast-paced, modern lives and invites us into a space for both humor and reflection. Although Gordon first started his...