March 28, 2024

Opening Receptions for Art Exhibits Tonight

The University of Mary Washington Galleries is hosting two exhibitions: “Double-Booked: Works by Brian Davis and Lauren Jacobs” at the duPont Gallery through Sunday, Feb. 10 and “The Art of the Book” at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery from Friday, Jan. 25 through Friday, Feb. 22.

The opening receptions will be held tonight from 5 to 7 p.m., with the reception for “Double-Booked” at the duPont Gallery and the reception for “The Art of the Book” at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery. The receptions and exhibitions are free and open to the public.

Falling-of-Heaven-Detail_7

Lauren Jacobs, Falling of Heaven (Detail), 2012, upcycled book, acrylic paint,
wool, silk, beads, wire, tree moss, 8.5” x 12”

“Double-Booked” features the works of adjunct instructors Brian Davis and Lauren Jacobs. In his work, Davis explores the tension between transcendence and cliché in installations, sculptural objects and multimedia works that include video and software. Through her mixed media sculptures, Jacobs creates surreal representations of the relationship between the body, emotion, wilderness and architecture to explore consciousness and its limits.

An artist based in Woodbridge, Va., Davis teaches sculpture and new media at UMW, and has taught at the George Washington University and Winthrop University. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree in general studio from Winthrop University and a master of fine arts degree in sculpture from the University of Florida.

Jacobs, whose art has appeared in more than 40 exhibitions, teaches fine and applied art courses at UMW, the Art Institute of Washington and Northern Virginia Community College. She received a bachelor of fine art degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a master of fine art degree from the Cranbook Academy of Art.

Robert The, The Art Crisis, 2003–08, cut up hard cover book,7 11/16 x 4 13/16 x 7/8
© Robert The

Robert The, The Art Crisis, 2003–08, cut up hard cover book,
7 11/16 x 4 13/16 x 7/8
© Robert The

In the 20th century, book art emerged as a major form of artistic expression with its own set of artists, critics, leaders and history. Contemporary book art varies in form and content, from the creation of new book forms to the manipulation of existing books. “The Art of  the Book” demonstrates the diversity of book art through the work of 11 artists: Cara Barer, Julie Chen, Brian Dettmer, Linda K. Johnson, Ann Kalmbach and Tatana Kellner, Jacqueline Rush Lee, Emily Martin, Laura Russell, Gretchen Schermerhorn and Robert The.

Both galleries are located on College Avenue on the Fredericksburg campus and are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The galleries are closed during university holidays and breaks. Free parking for gallery visitors is designated in the lot on College Avenue at Thornton Street. For directions and more information, call (540) 654-1013 or visit http://galleries.umw.edu.

About Brynn Boyer

Brynn Boyer is assistant director of media and public relations and a 2010 graduate of UMW.