Artists use layers in exhibitions on display in art galleries

3D artwork ranging from fabrics and fibers to colossal collages will be one of the handful of featured exhibits on display in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) art galleries in the spring 2019 semester.

Kicking off the exhibitions is Lisa Freeman from Athens, Georgia, with her collages titled "Dark Cotton." Her work will run from Jan. 7-31 in the Roy C. Moore Art Gallery inside the Professional and Continuing Education Building on UNG's Gainesville Campus in Oakwood, Georgia.

"Lisa Freeman creates houses that are layered with vintage postcards and magazines. It looks like a scrapbook, but it is art," said Victoria Cooke, director of art galleries at UNG, explaining the assembled objects tell a story. "Her work speaks to subjects that our society is struggling with in terms of race and poverty."

Freeman will speak to UNG students, faculty and staff as well as community members who attend the artist's talk and reception from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31. Cooke said Freeman has a story to share, because she has not taken the traditional route to become an artist.

"She is not a folk artist. And she is not an artist with a master's degree either," Cooke said. "But she has received a lot of attention from the art community in Athens."

Cooke explained she aims to bring in different artists to give students various perspectives.

Zipporah Thompson's exhibit "Rootwork" will be on display from Feb. 25 to March 21 in the Bob Owens Art Gallery across from the Great Room in Hoag Student Center on the Dahlonega Campus. (Photo courtesy of Zipporah Thompson)

"They will see different methods of work," she said. "Different painters and different sculptures have different techniques."

Their careers also traverse the spectrum. Cooke said some support themselves through their art while others have full-time jobs in addition to their artistic endeavors.

"They reflect a diversity," she said. "And I want the students to be exposed to the different career paths that are out there."

No matter their vocation, all artists meet one expectation at UNG. All exhibitors meet with students and conduct a workshop in their trade.

"We are student-education driven," Cooke said. "All of the artists we bring in are tied to the classes we teach at UNG."

Zipporah Thompson is an abstract artist with a master's degree from the University of Georgia who creates her pieces with fibers and fabrics. (Photo courtesy of Forest McMullin)

For example, Zipporah Thompson is an abstract artist with a master's degree from the University of Georgia who creates her pieces with fibers and fabrics. On UNG's Dahlonega Campus, one professor teaches a fiber and textile class, which is the perfect tie-in to Thompson's work. Her art is also linked to a class on feminist art.

Thompson's exhibit "Rootwork" will be on display from Feb. 25 to March 21 in the Bob Owens Art Gallery across from the Great Room in Hoag Student Center on the Dahlonega Campus. Her artist's talk and reception will be from 5-6:30 p.m. March 21.

Art galleries on the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses are not the only ones displaying fresh exhibits this spring. Cameron Bliss will have her paintings displayed at the Oconee Campus. The show will run from Jan. 23 to Feb. 20, with the artist's talk and reception to be scheduled soon.

Bliss received this opportunity after winning Best in Show from the 2018 juried exhibition at Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, which is a partner with UNG.