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Artist to be featured in solo exhibit in New York |
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Vicki L. Kroll |
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Oct 9, 2006 |
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Hunks of wood jut out from the gallery wall. They’re covered with scraps of fabric, pieces of paper. Some bear images of people.
“This exhibit really grew out of the loss of my mom this spring and I think in response to loss in general with what’s going on in the world,” said Barbara WF Miner, UT associate professor of art.
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| Miner and pieces from her exhibit, Offering: In Response to an Interior Landscape" |
“Offering: In Response to an Interior Landscape” will open Oct. 10 in Brownson Gallery at Manhattanville College, Purchase, N.Y., just outside of the Big Apple. The solo mixed-media exhibit will be on display through Nov. 11.
“There are images of my daughters, an X-ray of the broken wrist my mom sustained. It’s about children and parents and the loss and the value of that,” Miner said. “Because the materials are somewhat ephemeral — slabs of wood that some images are adhered to — the feeling that nature is part of it, the precariousness of the natural world was going into the thinking also — the impact on it and our need for support from it.”
The artist likes the challenge of putting together a solo show — and the chance to make a statement.
“It’s one of the toughest things to do is to find solo exhibitions. It’s one of the most exciting for artists because you get to sculpt the entire show and reinforce the statement you’re making with your work,” Miner said. “You can have 15 to 20 pieces; you’re not in a group show represented by just one piece. Holy smokes! It’s scary! It’s all me. If I don’t get the work done or people don’t respond to the work, I can’t hide in a group show.”
Miner said she is grateful to work at UT, which funded this summer project with a grant from the University Research Awards and Fellowship Program.
“UT provides the time and support to go out on a limb to create new works regardless of discipline. That’s invaluable,” she said. “Part of our job is to continue that creative life. Our resources get absorbed maintaining a wonderful studio program for students. Being creative individually is really critical in any department — the whole department benefits.”
Flexing artistic muscle outside the region benefits UT, too.
“It takes The University of Toledo name outside Toledo. This is more critical for artists because when you’re able to compete at an international and national level, it creates a buzz,” Miner said. “A lot of things are about where your shows have been seen, if you’re able to get your work out there, then it moves you forward as an artist. Your reputation grows, and certainly your students benefit.”
It doesn’t hurt your self-esteem either.
“Art, in some respects, has to do with ego. Whether you’re a scientist, artist or a poet, being able to compete at the national level is acknowledgement of obtaining certain growth or validity of your creative career,” Miner said. “When it’s peer-reviewed, it goes beyond a pat on the back — it’s a real sense of accomplishment. It spurs you on to want to do more work.”
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