Stevenson University will celebrate its 20th anniversary recognition of art exhibitions in spring 2017. Since 1997, the university’s exhibitions program has held over 175 exhibitions and grown to include four gallery spaces across the three campuses.
The Art Gallery and the St. Paul Companies Pavilion are located on the Greenspring campus, the School of Design Gallery is located on the North campus in the School of Design building, and the new art gallery which has yet to be named is located in the Kevin J. Manning Academic Center on the North campus.
Matthew Laumann, director of cultural programs and exhibitions, has been a member of the Stevenson University community since 2009 and has been director since 2013. Laumann, who began his journey into art and design at a young age, said he always considered himself an artist.
The diversity of the artwork on campus makes the exhibitions so unique, said Laumann. The exhibits are designed to pull from all majors’ core curriculum, so that shows are “more than just art,” he explained. The artwork tells a story, and by incorporating other disciplines, all students and faculty should be able to relate to the exhibits.
The galleries on campus continue to display artwork from faculty members as well as the outside artistic community. For example, Elena Volkova, a photographer and faculty member of the visual communication design department, opened her exhibit Penumbra a few weeks ago in the gallery on the Greenspring campus, and it will remain on view until Oct. 6, 2016.
TIMING IS ESSENTIAL
According to Laumann, one of the most challenging steps in creating an exhibit is the timing. To prepare for an exhibit, he must plan at least 18 months in advance to ensure all the details of the mounting and display, opening, and various receptions are addressed.
Within this time frame, he is scheduling, organizing and managing. If there are specific artists or photographers he would like to feature, he has to invite them immediately. Time and space are limited, and to ensure the quality of the work, everyone involved must be collaborative and efficient.
To show homage to the 20th celebration, Stevenson University will host an exhibition that will consist of pieces from the university’s permanent art collection. The exhibition is titled SU20: Selections from the Stevenson University Permanent Art Collection. The showcase will display artwork across Greenspring and Owings Mills North campuses.
CULTURAL PROGRAM OFFERS INTERNSHIPS
Internship opportunities for Stevenson students are available within the cultural program. Laumann said he is looking for students who would enjoy working at the venues across the three campuses and promote the events using social media tools. Internships can be arranged either during the school year or in the summer, depending on availability. For further information, contact Laumann at [email protected] or The Facebook page, Facebook.com/stevensongalleries.