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    1. UNG
    2. News

    Visual Arts celebrates evolution of 50 years

    September 8, 2021
    The Department of Visual Arts is celebrating its golden anniversary with events throughout the academic year on three different campus and online.

    Article By: Staff

    Nearly 25 years ago, Paul Dunlap enrolled as a non-traditional student at UNG to pursue a degree in art. He enrolled in Hank Margeson's photography class and discovered his passion.

    "That was a game changer. The experience at UNG changed my life profoundly," Dunlap said. Now, the 2001 alumnus is a professor in the Department of Visual Arts at UNG. His is one of many similar stories throughout the past 50 years.

    Dunlap and others in the UNG community are encouraged to share their memories of the past and present on the department's Facebook and Instagram pages. UNG students, alumni, faculty, staff, supporters, or artists, are asked to use the #DOVA50 in the post.

    "When we look back at 50 years ago, so many people left their footprints at UNG," Vanessa Bamber, development officer for the College of Arts & Letters, said. "The 'Celebrating 50 Years of Visual Arts' experience provides an opportunity for those individuals to share their thoughts and continue to engage with the department."

    UNG's visual arts program was formed with music and theater in 1971 as the Department of Fine Arts on the Dahlonega Campus. Headed by Robert "Bob" Owens from 1972-2002, it had two faculty members and offered two degrees. Two years later in 1973-74, a full-time instructor of art started teaching on the Gainesville Campus in the humanities division.

    Since then, visual arts has grown to 36 faculty and staff members who educate nearly 500 art majors and 150 art minors in six areas or concentrations. The department offers seven undergraduate degree programs, five minors and one certificate.

    Visual arts has hit several milestones in the past decade. In 2015, it earned accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the most prestigious accreditation in visual arts education. In two years after that, it launched a digital arts and graphic design concentrations. In 2018, it switched from a Bachelor of Arts degree to a Bachelor of Fine Arts. And this fall, the department moved into a new facility on the Gainesville Campus.

    The golden anniversary will be celebrated all year long to allow a wide audience to participate.

    Department of Visual Arts specialty events

    • Oct. 15-17: ART-OUT at Gold Rush from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Dahlonega
    • Nov. 12: Corkscrews & Canvas fundraiser from 6-9 p.m.
    • Feb. 10: Corkscrews & Canvas fundraiser from 6-9 p.m.
    • Feb. 28 to March 22: Foundations: Bob Owens, Tommye Scanlin, Hank Margeson and Win Crannell Bob Owens Art Gallery on the Dahlonega Campus
    • April 23-24: 50th anniversary visual arts alumni reunion at Pine Valley

    "If you only have one event, people could miss out," Bamber said. "If we have several, people can select a few events to attend during the fall or spring semesters or both."

    Anniversary activities include artist talks via Zoom, faculty and student exhibitions on three campuses, painting fundraisers, ART-OUT faculty/student art sale during Gold Rush and a visual arts alumni reunion at Pine Valley.

    A film project also is in progress to archive the origins and evolution of the department from its founders. Each person's interview is scheduled to last about 2 minutes.

    "The founders are being questioned about what was involved to start the department and their role in the process," Bamber said. "We are also asking them to give advice to students."

    The video will be featured on the department's website when completed. Currently, a brief history and an activities list are displayed there.

    Contact the Author

    UNG hosts Music Major for a Day event

    UNG hosts Music Major for a Day event

    Nearly 150 Georgia high school students participated in the second annual Music Major for a Day event on Sept. 20, gaining insight into life as a Nighthawk at the Dahlonega Campus.
    Groups collaborate on Pauli Murray events

    Groups collaborate on Pauli Murray events

    Four groups within UNG are collaborating in "Song of Pauli Murray," to highlight American Pauli Murray. The events will be at the Gainesville Campus Oct. 5 and Oct. 24, at the Dahlonega Campus Nov. 2 and a Nov. 1 Zoom talk.
    Bayeux Tapestry replica on campus in September

    Bayeux Tapestry replica on campus in September

    A replica of the Bayeux Tapestry will be on display at UNG's Convocation Center Sept. 26-28. The painted textile visually captures the story of the Battle of Hastings, a military conflict that turned the tide of British and European history in 1066.
    Fall art exhibitions set for three campuses

    Fall art exhibitions set for three campuses

    UNG art galleries will have three new and very different exhibitions at the Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee campuses. All have free admission.

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