Open Studio

MFA Students at University of Memphis Host Open Studio
MFA Open Studio Night
Thursday, November 1, from 5:45 to 7:45

The University of Memphis Fine Arts MFA students will be hosting an Open Studio Night on Thursday, November 1, from 5:45 to 7:45. Guests are encouraged to start their tours at The Jones Hall Gallery of The University of Memphis, located in Jones Hall, room 109. Jones Hall is at the intersection of Alumni and Desoto on the University of Memphis Campus.

After visiting Berta Jottar’s exhibit in the Jones Hall Gallery, guests will be provided with information about the MFA program as well as a map to the painting, sculpture, and photography studios.

Ryan VanderLey, a first-year painting student whose work has been in recent shows at L. Ross Gallery, is looking forward to his first Open Studio night at UM. He says, “I look forward to having people visit my studio space to see the kind of work I do for myself, the new direction I’m going with in my art, so they can get an idea of the two approaches I have towards painting.”

Brooke Foy, a second-year sculptor whose work was recently featured in Lantana Project’s Emerging Artists Series #1, is planning to use Open Studio Night as a forum for discussing her latest public installation sculpture. This project—a flat sculpture of a red-balloon, “is about stepping out of the gallery scenario and introducing art into the community.

Melissa Rackham, a photographer from Washington State graduating this spring, will be installing her work in the Art Department Office in Jones Hall rather than trying to lure people into her darkroom across campus. Because of the portability of most photographic equipment, a photographer’s “studio” is quite different from the little rooms that painters and sculptors use; the art department office will be a very interesting location in which to discuss the unexpected ways in which photographers like Melissa work.

Along with her photographs, Melissa is promising to serve some tasty treats, but don’t linger for too long; she’s not the only artist who will be providing refreshments. Participating artists also include MFA painters Chandler Pritchett, Sarah Boyce, Sunny Montgomery, Eric Bork and Ryan VanderLey. MFA sculptors include Tim Kinard, Brooke Foy, Eli Gold, Denise Rhodes, and ceramicists Greg Edmondson and Robert McCarroll. MFA Photographers include Yijun “Pixy” Liao, Chase Malone, Lea Alexander, Melissa Rackham, Raleigh Rodger and Jason Miller.

UM alumna and local educator Autumn Parkey will also be showing some of her recent sculpture, joined by undergraduate students who will also be opening their doors to curious members of the Memphis community, ready to answer questions that high school seniors may have about the transition to the University’s art program.

Along with snacks, guests at Open Studio night will experience hospitality, information, entertainment, and the work of some very promising emerging artists.