Barb Bondy, juror for the 2nd Alabama National Biennial, has announced the artists who have been accepted into the exhibition sponsored by the UA Department of Art and Art History. The show opens August 15, with a reception on Thursday, August 25 from 4-6 p.m.
Artists selected by juror Barb Bondy are: Nataki Alexander (AL), Misty Bennett (AL), Zachary Betts (TX), Andrew Brown (FL), Sam Collins (AL), Glenn Dasher (AL), Nick Davis (AL), Cat Duncan (AL), Amy Lynn George (AL), Martha Hopkins (AL), Lindsey Landfried (PA), Gregory Martin (MS), Lake Roberson Newton (TN), Corinna Nicole (AL), Miriam Norris Omura (AL), Jennifer Onofrio Fornes (GA), David Robinson (GA), Amy Schissel (WV), Randy Shoults (AL), Jason Stout (TN), Wanda Sullivan (AL), Christopher J. Troutman (TX) and Rachel Ann Wakefield (AL).
Bondy, an artist and professor at Auburn University, selected from among a large group of artist entrants from across the country. About the final group, she remarked, “The compelling work in this exhibition will engage curiosity, stimulate dialogue, challenge and inspire.” Read Bondy’s entire juror’s statement below:
“It is an honor to jury the 2nd Alabama National Biennial juried art exhibition. The quality and diversity of artwork submitted coupled with space limitations made the selection process particularly difficult. I thank all who participated and I look forward to seeing more of your work. I had to make tough decisions with sound reasoning. In addition to viewing images of the submitted work, I visited websites of artists where possible to broaden my scope of understanding of the work. Of course every juror brings a unique background to jurying. I made selections that I think exemplify the seeming uncertainty of the times we live in and diverse approaches in concept, method, or materials given the breadth of submissions. This group of selected works also presents a range of experience from emerging to established artists throughout the US. Art has the power to draw connections among people who may not know each other and the compelling work in this exhibition will engage curiosity, stimulate dialogue, challenge and inspire. A debt is owed to The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa for creating this opportunity for artists and viewers.” –Barb Bondy, Professor of Art, Auburn University
Barb Bondy is a visual artist and Professor of Art in the Department of Art and Art History at Auburn University where she served as exhibitions and lectures coordinator from 2003 through 2012. She received an MFA at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a BFA at the University of Windsor, Canada. Bondy, who is a recipient of an Alabama State Council on the Arts Fellowship, is currently involved in a collaborative research project with cognitive scientists Dr. Jeffrey Katz and Martha Forloines. The project titled, Drawing and Cognitive Neuroscience, bridges art and neuroscience and aims to study drawing practice from a cognitive perspective and the impact learning to draw has on the brain.
Bondy’s creative research interests in metacognition (thinking about thinking) have been explored primarily through drawing and photography. For the past 15 years, Bondy has taught drawing classes from introductory through advanced levels. Additionally, she has taught drawing classes with the Alabama Prison Art + Education Project (2005-2011). Her artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally and she has presented papers on the topic of her work and on drawing practice at regional, national and international conferences.
The Alabama National Biennial exhibition will be held August 15 – September 2, 2016, in The University of Alabama’s Sella-Granata Art Gallery, in historic Woods Hall, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A reception will be held Thursday, August 25, 4-6 pm, and will be open to the public. The exhibition is supported by the UA Department of Art and Art History and Harrison Galleries, LLC, 2315 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401.
For more information contact: Assistant Professor Matt Mitros, Alabama National Biennial coordinator, email or call (205) 348-1889.
Sella-Granata Art Gallery webpage: https://art.ua.edu/gallery/sgg/
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/985361468248513/
Press release: https://art.ua.edu/news/ua-announces-second-alabama-national/
IMAGE CREDIT: Sam Collins, Under Pressure–People in Streets
Funding support for the Sella-Granata Art Gallery comes from the Department of Art and Art History and the College of Arts and Sciences. Admission to the gallery is free. Hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00 – 4:00 p.m. The gallery is located at 109 Woods Hall in the heart of the UA campus on Woods Quad. Information about visitor parking is available here: http://bamaparking.ua.edu/visitor-information/. Parking is free on campus in a legal space after business hours. For more information, contact the gallery at (205) 348-2783 or go to https://art.ua.edu/gallery/sgg/.