This event, free and open to the public, will highlight the work of regional public artists and feature guest Becky Borlan, a Baltimore-based public artist known for producing vibrant, large-scale works that create a sense of the whimsical through the use of light and color.
Borlan has been selected as a Marshall University Visiting Joan C. Edwards Distinguished Professor in the Arts and will be working with School of Art & Design students in advance of the artist talk and mini conference. The invitation was inspired by her selection for the Reinventing Central City public art commission, for which she will create two sculptures for the Central City Gazebo in west Huntington. This project, funded by T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant program and sponsored by RenewAll and the city of Huntington, is part of a larger revitalization effort for the area.
The mini conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 18 with catered networking on the second floor of the Visual Arts Center, followed by resource presentations by local organizations at 9 a.m. in Room 209. At 10 a.m., Borlan and regional artists Jonathan Cox, Frederick Hightower, Matt Smith and Nichole Westfall will share insights into their public art practices and experiences in a panel moderated by Maria Gindhart, dean of the College of Arts and Media.
Following the panel, attendees are invited to a reception for Public Art in Process, an exhibition in the Pneumatic Gallery on view from Oct. 14 to Oct. 31. The exhibition offers an exclusive view of the public art commission process by artists recognized for their excellence in mural and sculpture.
The day will conclude with a public art activity where attendees can help refresh The Jewel, a mural by Sassa Wilkes and Huntington Pride, located at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 10th Street.
The mini conference is preceded by an artist talk on Thursday, Oct. 17. Borlan will present the talk, “Public Art in Creative Practice,” at 5 p.m. in Room 209 of the Visual Arts Center. Both the artist talk, and the Friday panel discussion will be streamed online at https://www.marshall.edu/livestream/. No registration is required, and both events are free and open to the public. These events are possible with support from the Joan C. Edwards Distinguished Professors in the Arts Endowment, the Drinko Academy, the School of Art & Design, and the College of Arts and Media.
For additional information or inquiries, contact Professor Sandra Reed at sandra.reed@marshall.edu
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