Exhibit showcases faculty artwork
By Lauren Hanvey
Staff Reporter

A distorted black and white photograph of a woman sitting in a chair hangs on one of the walls in the University Art Gallery. The piece was done by Tuba Oztekin, an adjunct instructor of photography from Turkey.

On another wall hangs a giant canvas depicting Big Bend National Park with dashes of greens, blues and reds interrupting the serenity. This creation belongs to Jim Woodson, a professor of art.

These works are part of the “Insights” TCU Art Faculty annual exhibit that opened to the public with a reception and open house Monday night in Moudy Building North. The exhibit will run through Feb. 27.

The faculty was on hand Monday to show off their work. More than 25 faculty members participated in the exhibit.

Oztekin said there is more than just an exterior surface to everything we see. To see the inner part is insight, she said.

“My insight is my education, my family, my fears, my excitement and my hopes,” she said.

The exhibit is valuable for students because they need to see their teachers’ work, Woodson said.

“To communicate that we are all artists and not just teaching art is important,” he said.

Even though most of the art is for sale, the main focus of the University Art Gallery is education for students and the community, said Denise Stringer Davis, adjunct instructor of color and design.

“As a teacher I’m very interested in encouraging students to think about things in new ways,” she said.

“Insights” showcases the faculty’s new work in a variety of media. The diversity in the art shows all the teachers exploring different things, Davis said.

Often the artwork taught in the classroom is different from a teacher’s own style, said Stacia Wender, a senior art education major. She said she likes being able to get to know the professors through their art.

“You get to see the person outside of the teacher,” Wender said.

An exhibit like “Insights” creates a sense of community between students and faculty, said Omar Hernandez, a graduate student of painting.

Hernandez said “Naked Brunch” by Linda Guy, one of his professors, is his favorite of her work. It is a large-scale colorful mixed media piece.

The teachers teach techniques in class, but students rarely see the teachers’ own work, said Heidi Lingamfelter, a senior printmaking major. This exhibit is a way to see their style, she said.

Instead of students having their own art critiqued, the exhibit is a chance for students to critique their teachers work, Lingamfelter said. She said she was impressed with the precision of David Conn’s prints.

“Sometimes I look at his art and it inspires me to work harder,” she said.

Lauren Hanvey
l.e.hanvey@tcu.edu