News

Elijah Gowin ’90 (American, b. 1967)Into the Sun 40, 2009Archival pigment printGift of Malú Alvarez, Class of 2002 When I first laid eyes on this piece of artwork on the wall in Wall, I couldn’t help but be instantly transported to a place that’s practically a staple of the Davidson experience: Lake Campus, or as it’s affectionately known, Lampus. Now, let me clarify, I’m not saying this piece is a direct depiction of the campus itself, but rather, it evokes the exact feeling of being there. If you’re familiar with Davidson, you know that Lake Campus becomes a bit of...

Howard Finster (American, 1916-2001)Earth, Heaven, Hell, 1986Oil on board54 x 16.75 inchesGift of the S. Powell Bridges Family Howard Finster (American, 1916-2001) refers to himself by many names: a Preacher, a Second Noah, and a sacred artist. Originally a travelling preacher, Finster was painting a bicycle one day when a smudge of paint got on his finger. He looked at the smudge and a face appeared to him, calling him to make Sacred Art for God. Although the story has become almost myth-like in the Finster cannon, Howard Finster would go on to create over 5,000 sacred art objects after...

Richard Aberle Florsheim (American, 1916-1979)Bridge, 1977Lithograph on paper12.125 x 20 inGift of Lakeside Studio On a whim, I discovered Richard Aberle Florsheim's Bridge in the Van Every/Smith Galleries collection. Despite its gloomy, dismal mood, I felt captivated by its simplicity and its ambiguity, as if I was staring out a blurry train window on an unfamiliar, yet enticing, destination. This gray, grainy cityscape evokes a mysterious yet peaceful feeling and invites viewers into its rich, hazy atmosphere. Thin black lines denote a bridge with thicker vertical stripes forming skyscrapers in the background. Subtle reflections below the bridge posts indicate water,...

James McBey (Scottish, 1883-1959)The Doorway, 1925Etching on paper10.75 x 8.1875 inGift of John A. Welsh, III '59 As I first began to browse the Van Every | Smith collections in search of artwork reminiscent of my semester abroad, I sought a piece with some kind of not merely Italian, but Florentine quality. Not necessarily a depiction of the city or a Renaissance work, but instead a piece with some trait that whispered Florence, the city where I spent four cherished months. I imagined that perhaps I would choose a portrayal of architecture which brought me back to my apartment, with...

Harmony Hammond (American, b. 1944) Emerging Cross I, 2022 Mixed media monotype on Twinrocker paper 10 x 13 in Gallery Purchase with funds from the Dr. Joan Huntley Art Acquisition Endowment Harmony Hammond (American, b. 1944) is one of the most influential artists in the Feminist Art movement of the late 20th century. In 1972, she was the founder of the first women's cooperative gallery A.I.R and has written critical feminist literature over the years, from establishing the journal Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art & Politics and to writing Wrappings: Essays on Feminism Art & the Martial Arts. Her...