Video from Hannah March Sanders' Exhibition

If you aren't able to make it to the exhibition (up through November 4th, aka tomorrow, in USM's Goppert Gallery), here's an installation video Hannah took!

Guest Artists at USM

Sorry for the slight gap in posts - it's been a very busy couple of weeks!  I did want to pop in and let you know that tomorrow afternoon is the reception for our latest guest artist, Assistant Professor of Art Hannah March Sanders of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.  Hannah is a fiber artist and printmaker often working in collaboration with her husband, and I am very excited about her exhibition!  Here's the press release for her exhibition, if you'd like more details!

I also neglected to highlight our previous guest artist, so I'll do that now as well.  Illinois painter Scott Thomas Arthur exhibited in USM's Goppert Gallery from September 9th through the 30th.  His press release is here.

I met both of these talented artists while in graduate school at LSU, and was very excited when they both agreed to exhibit particularly because both were willing to drive over to Leavenworth and actually be present for the reception as well as guest lecture my Portfolio Seminar class.  This allows students and reception attendees the ability to really connect with the artists and their artwork in a way that they just can't when they only have access to the artwork.

Spring 2016 Student Art Exhibition Reception Photos

Here are the Spring 2016 Student Art Exhibition photos!  We invited local artist Beth Snider to be our guest judge in handing out Miller Awards, so you can see her presenting those in a couple photos.  44 students exhibited in the show (which ran from April 29 through May 5).  Classes I taught that were represented include Typography, Printmaking, Painting I & III, and Advanced Studios in Mixed Media and Tattoo Design.

Graduation for the Class of 2016

Yesterday we had the baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies for the University of Saint Mary's 2016 graduating class.  It's always a little tough, in that I am proud of the seniors' accomplishments and hopeful for their futures, and yet also a bit selfishly sad to see them leave.

2016 SpireFest

Every year, the University of Saint Mary holds an event called SpireFest which is aimed at raising money for student scholarships.  There's a silent auction, student performances and entertainment, food and drink, and even dancing.  This year, I've donated a signed, matted print and five greeting cards as an artwork bundle, so keep your fingers crossed it gets some good bids!  I'll be there for the third year in a row, so if you're interested in keeping me company, check out this flyer - but hurry, as SpireFest is this Saturday...

Abraham Lincoln's Life in Images Lecture at USM on C-SPAN

A couple months ago, the University of Saint Mary hosted Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery senior historian David Ward at our annual Lincoln Event.  He gave a fantastic art-history-focused lecture that I got to experience live, but which is also being broadcast by C-SPAN 3 this Sunday at both 7pm and 11pm.  A preview clip is available here.

2016 Art Major Project Exhibition Photos

Here are some images our Marketing Department took of the opening reception we held yesterday for the two Art Major Project related exhibitions.  If you'd like to see the album in a dedicated tab/window, click here.

2016 Art Major Project Opening Reception

The Art Program at USM releases all art majors, minors, and liberal studies focus students from their studio art courses for six school days in order to work on a collaborative project.  This year, they were led by local guest artist Mary Ellen Maxwell and tasked with creating assemblages that have both independent and collaborative elements.  The opening reception is this Friday, February 12th from 3-5pm in Goppert Gallery in USM's Xavier Hall.

Here's the press release for more details!

Spring 2016 Courses

The University of Saint Mary's Spring 2016 semester is officially starting on Monday, January 18th (aka tomorrow if you're reading this post on the day it's published).  I'll be teaching Painting I, II, & III; Printmaking; Typography; and Advanced Studios, Internships, & Senior Show.  That counts as a four course load, which is standard for USM.  I was scheduled for an overload of five courses - Drawing II was also on the calendar - but none of our students chose to take it this semester.  

I've taught all of these courses before, but I did adjust some of the syllabi and projects based on former student feedback and how my own media interests have developed, so I'm excited to see how the courses progress this time.  (And, obviously, each semester is already different because the students also change.)  One of the reasons I really enjoy working at USM is that I do get to teach a variety of courses instead of a number of sessions of the same course, and that's true not only within a semester but also across multiple semesters.  I find the course rotation keeps the material fresh and interesting for me.

Susan Nelson's Updated Website

My colleague and good friend Susan Nelson has updated her website.  Check it out!

Goppert Gallery Exhibition: Student Work

My students did some amazing work this semester - this is just a small sampling of what was on display!  The courses I taught that have work on exhibit: Drawing I, Computer Graphics, and Advanced Studio in Airbrush.

Goppert Gallery Exhibition Photos

In case you missed our Goppert Gallery winter show, here are some photos of my exhibit - I'll display a few images of student work in a separate post!

Aspire Magazine Coverage on Summer Achievements

The University of Saint Mary not only issued a press release a little over a month ago on my summer exhibitions and awards, but also just published an article about it in the Fall 2015 issue of Aspire Magazine.

University of Saint Mary News Release

My university, the University of Saint Mary, recently issued this news release on several of my accomplishments this summer:

USM Art Program Director Honored for Her Impressive Work

8/17/2015 12:00:00 AM
(Leavenworth, Kan.)—The University of Saint Mary Art Program Director Shelby Prindaville was recently chosen by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to be one of only three featured tour artists within Art Works for Change’s new exhibition, “Footing the Bill: Art and Our Ecological Footprint,” for her extraordinary work capturing the beauty and frailty of the natural world. The subjects of both her painting and sculpture work encourage humanity to appreciate all creatures in nature—large and small—and reflect on our connection to them. The WWF is the world’s leading conservation organization, dedicated to conserving nature and addressing its most pressing threats.  

Art Works for Change’s “Footing the Bill: Art and Our Ecological Footprint” exhibition highlights our urgent need to live sustainably—choosing wisely how and where to use Earth’s finite resources. Prindaville was one of only 28 artists selected for the curated international exhibition. The exhibit is accessible online at artworksforchange.org. Art Works for Change is a nonprofit organization creating contemporary art exhibitions that highlight critical social and environmental issues.

“I am beyond honored to have my works recognized by both the WWF and Art Works for Change,” said Prindaville. “I whole-heartedly support the mission of both charitable organizations, and these honors reinforce why I do what I do—to call on human reflection and influence change.”

On top of both of these impressive accomplishments, Prindaville also recently won the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri “Best in Show” for her bison painting “Confrontation.” The painting was selected by juror Ruth Ann Reese in the “Wild Things” national exhibition at the Council.  

To see her work, visit shelbyprindaville.com.