This is a static page with basic information on the art department. It does include galleries with student and faculty work in several categories located to the right of the page. To see the facilities of the department view the tour section. To view or take part in more current events please connect to Facebook through the link directly above this post.

Annual Intercollegiate Art Competition

The Center for Contemporary Arts located at 220 Cypress, Abilene Texas is hosting the Annual Intercollegiate Art Competition. This is a great opportunity for art students to compete against other Universities and have a chance to exhibit their work. This is a Juried Show. The jurors will be Signature Artist Members of the CCA Russell Ellison and Linda Murray. There will be cash prizes awarded to the winners! Limit two entries per students. 2-D entries must be framed or gallery-wrapped canvases and HANG READY ( No saw tooth hangers, please).Pieces that are not hang-ready will be disqualified. 3-D work must be stable and well built. Dates to Remember: Show will run from January 10th - February 23rd, 2013 Registration and Drop off: (Registration and Drop off will located be at the CCA In the Main gallery, we will have a booth set-up!) December 6-12, 2012 Art walk days: Jan 10th and Feb 14th, 2013 AWARDS/PRIZES AND CLOSING RECEPTION IS FEBRUARY 14, 2013 @ 6:00pm Pick up for ALL WORK will be FEBRUARY 25th - March 2nd ( All work must be picked up by the 2nd!) Rejected work may be picked up anytime after January 10th 2013. Jennifer Parks Center for Contemporary Arts

Kalee Appleton Exhibiton

I’d like to invite you to an art opening this Friday evening in the Ryan Fine Art Gallery. Texas photographer, Kalee Appleton has a new exhibit that I think everyone will enjoy. It is reminiscent of turn of the century botanical drawings which will be interesting for our science and history majors as well as artists of all types. Kalee was the photographer for Bell Helicopter for several years before she became a full time graduate student at Texas Women’s University. She will be here at noon in the Art History room upstairs to discuss techniques and answer questions on Friday the 31st. Pizza and lemonade will be provided! Her reception will be from 5:30-7:00 the same evening. Refreshments will be served. Please see the attached poster. In the Gypsy Ted Gallery we have student Madison Galle with his Landscapes of Italy exhibit. These are images he took while enrolled in an advanced photo class. They are lovely and will either make you want to go to Italy or they will bring back wonderful memories. We’ll have refreshments there as well! We hope to see you in the Ryan and Gypsy Ted Galleries Friday! As always, the art is for sale! Jennifer N. Nichols Gallery Director

Trick Photography an Artist Eye

While traditional photography is ever popular, a growing trend of Photoshop and Trick photo wizardry has come to photography through the digital camera. If you are at home for the summer and wanting to try something new with your Digital EOS Rebel an ebook like this can be a good substitute teacher. Keep those skills sharp, you'll be back in school soon. Trick Photography

Pinterest comes to McMurry

Several members of the art department have been growing their posts on Pinterest a repining service that allows the collection of inspirational images on the web. This is a new kind of "sketchbook" for artists to collect ideas and share with others. If anyone in the Art Department would like to add their Pinterest link here email it to: oilerb@mcm.edu http://pinterest.com/bradleyoiler/ http://pinterest.com/paige824/ http://pinterest.com/freshkaufee/ http://pinterest.com/revosphinks/ http://pinterest.com/sacpka/ http://pinterest.com/peaceart1/ http://pinterest.com/senoritastacy/ http://pinterest.com/davidsonsr/ http://pinterest.com/sshayy/ http://pinterest.com/brookeanorman/ http://pinterest.com/ashalmonte/ http://pinterest.com/twerner/ http://pinterest.com/anewwaytomarket/ http://pinterest.com/oilerstudios/ http://pinterest.com/coloredumbrella/ http://pinterest.com/dorydotdesign/

Spring 2012 Calendar

Shikha Joshi
“Contemplating Form & Surface”
Feb 10, March 7
Ceramics Workshop
Feb. 11, 9-4 p.m. light breakfast and lunch provided
Opening Reception
Feb. 11, 6-7:30 p.m.

Women in History Month (100 Women Artists)
Show in West foyer of Ryan
March 1—March 30
We will be doing a book as well!

Spring Break—March 12-17

Women In History
Panel discussion and art reception
March 20

Kathy Whiteside
Reception
April 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
Collage and painting workshop
April 14, $30.00

Nichole Trussell
Senior show in Ryan
April 22-27
Reception April 27.

Curtis Crocker & Nicole Darnell
Senior Shows Gypsy Ted
April 28-May 4
Reception May 4

Student Show
May 4-12
Reception May 4
6—7:30 p.m.

Fall Calendar 2011

Alumni Art Exhibition
Jonathan Kimbrell '04
Ryan Fine Arts Gallery
October 6-28th
9-5 p.m.
Brownbag Artist Talk
Noon

High School Student Competition
November 7-28th
Awards to be listed here soon

Student Show
Jesse Smith
Nate Ritchey
Ryan Warren

Google Art Museums

Google is under development of technology that allows users to travel through the world's most famous art museums, investigate highly detailed closeups, and even create personal collections. This technology will be used in the fall along with other Google projects such as: Google body and Google Earth (GPS locations or 3D models of architecture). Below is a link to the Google art project:

http://www.googleartproject.com/museums/met/the-harvesters

Monster Doodle Book

We have a special summer treat for you in the middle of this hot July!  Travis Nichols will be here in the Ryan Gallery this Friday, the 22nd to present his new book, The Monster Doodle Book.  The show is interactive and fun for children and adults alike.  Come by and release your inner child for a delightful evening of drawing, discussion, and light snacks!  This show will hang all summer but the opening reception is always the most fun!

The Monster Doodle Book (Perigee Books / Penguin) is a hearty tome of body parts, gross crud, silly junk, weapons, mutated plants, cryptids, and more that YOU get to finish. Make your drawings scary disgusting, cute, powerful, weird, mean... whatever you want. It's up to you. YOU. All-ages.

www.monsterdoodlebook.com

The Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery at McMurry University presents a Monster Doodle Book gallery show with an opening reception and book signing on July 22nd at 6:30pm.

The gallery will display blowups from The Monster Doodle Book that visitors can complete with dry erase markers. Drawings can be erased, edited, drawn and redrawn for the show's duration. The gallery will also feature paintings and drawings by Travis Nichols.

Books made available for purchase on site from Texas Star Trading Company.

Travis Nichols (an Abilinean living in Brooklyn, NY) is also the author and illustrator of Punk Rock Etiquette: The Ultimate How-to Guide for DIY, Punk, Indie, and Underground Bands, which was awarded a Blue Ribbon by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and was nominated by YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association, as one of the Best Books for Young Adults, as well as one of their 2009 Popular Paperbacks.

Jennifer N. Nichols
Gallery Director
McMurry University
Abilene, Texas 79697

2011 National Student Show & Conference

Students head to 7th annual National Student Show in Dallas

Conference Schedule

Friday April 1st
10:00am- 11:00am Keynote Speaker- Bryony Gomez
11:30am-1:00pm Round Table Discussions
1:00pm- 2:30pm Lunch on own
2:00pm-5:00pm Portfolio reviews (underclassmen only)

Breakout Sessions 1A-1D
2:30pm-3:30p – Don Clampitt- Clampitt Paper School
2:30pm-3:30p - Hank Richardson: Portfolio school vs University
2:30pm-3:30p – How to write copy, sorta: Wayne Geyer
2:30pm-3:30p – Flaunt: Portfolios- Bryony Gomez

Breakout Sessions 2A-2D
4:00pm-5:00pm- Motion is the new print!- Barton
4:00pm-5:00pm- Color Dynamics Printing Demo- Trehan
4:00pm-5:00pm- Quick Thinking: Logo Competition
4:00pm-5:00pm- Zines, Winners! Press – DIY publishing is easy!

5-6:30pm- Break
6:30pm-7:30pm Keynote Speaker- Dan & Andre of Dress Code
8:30-10:00pm- Mohawk Party off site at Tractorbeam

Inspiration for Illustrators

If you are really into illustration and Photoshop created artwork this site has a ton of examples.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=94571

Art Department News

Kathie Walker-Millar had a porcelain sculpture, made during her sabbatical, accepted into a five state juried competition sponsored by the University of Dallas. There were 300 entries and 68 pieces were selected for the travelling exhibition.


Two McMurry art faculty and two students were juried into the Stars of Texas Art Show in Brownwood. Painting Instructor, Sarabeth Clevenger received first place in watercolor painting. Art Professor, Kathie Walker-Millar exhibited a clay sculpture, “Birdwatcher” from her sabbatical show and it sold to a collector from Colorado. Rachel Holmes, a junior, exhibited a photograph. Nicole Trussell, a senior, exhibited one photograph.


The current show at the Center for Contemporary, “Art de Fleur,” has art works by 4 McMurry faculty members and one graduate. Brad Oiler exhibited a wood construction, Kathie Walker-Millar exhibited two paintings, Sarabeth Clevenger exhibited a painting and Jennifer Nichols exhibited her photograph. McMurry graduate, Ash Almonte had a large painting in the exhibit as well. This exhibit coupled local designers and floral designers to respond to the art.


Jennifer, Photography Instructor, has been commissioned to do the photographic images for the new Abilene Teachers Credit Union on Antilley Road.


Kathie Walker-Millar, McMurry University Professor of Ar,t is the co-President of the Center for Contemporary Arts Artists Members for 2011, with Linda Fawcett, Professor of Art at Hardin-Simmons University

New Artwork Added to Design Gallery

Over 40 new images of student multimedia graphic design artworks were added today. Click on the Design Gallery link to the right to view them as a slide show.

(in)visible demarcations

(in)visible demarcations

Works by local artist Nil Santana on display January 26 - February 25
Brown Bag Gallery Talk
Friday, February 18 at 12:00 p.m
For more information, call Saybra Phillips, Gallery Director.
Phillips.saybra@mcm.edu
325.793.4888

Spring Semester Startup!

The spring semester has gotten started and Kathie's back!

Check back often as we will start getting updated information here soon.

Christmas Art Sale

Big Country High School Art Competition

Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery
McMurry University, Corner of Hunt and Sayles Blvd. Abilene, Texas 79697 325-793-4888


Contact: Saybra Phillips, Gallery Director
(325) 793-4888
phillips.saybra@mcm.edu

Big Country High School
Art Competition Exhibition open to High School juniors and seniors in the Big Country


Delivery of work: November 19th, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
November 20th, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Awards reception: Thursday, December 2, 5:30 p.m.


Location: Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery
McMurry University, Corner of Hunt & Sayles Blvd.
Abilene, Texas 79697 325-793-4888


Gallery Hours: Monday- Friday, 8a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Appointments available upon request.


The Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery is proud to host the Big Country High School Art Competition. This competition and exhibit will be judged by The Center For Contemporary Arts’ Gallery Manager, Paris Barnett. Students are allowed to submit two pieces each to be judged for cash prizes and displayed from November 29th – December 17th in the Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery on the McMurry University Campus. Entries can be dropped off in the Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery lobby on November 19th, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. and November 20th, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
An Awards reception will be held on Thursday, December 2, at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact Saybra Phillips: 325.793.4888.

Twist of Fate

Twist of Fate: is a senior show containing a collection of artwork by Eliana Fanous. She specializes in painting, ceramics and photography. Graduating in December, she will have earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Studio Art, and will then be applying for graduate school. Due to her vast experience in travel and art, Eliana’s style is considered eclectic. There is a purity of color throughout many of her pieces, even though they may be different mediums. This exhibit expresses the love Eliana has towards art and the journey of discovering herself through it. Please join her on Friday, November 19th from 7 pm- 9pm, for an evening of twisted colors and delicious refreshments. Everyone is invited to have a twist of fate.

Gallery Hours: November 15-19, 2010
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Appointment available upon request

Questions: Eliana Fanous, (325) 829-3113
Fanous.eliana@students.mcm.edu

Amy Graves Ryan Fin Art Gallery
McMurry University, Corner of Hunt and Sayles Blvd. Abilene, Texas 79605 (325)793-4888

Vanish

Join Stephanie Fitts at the Artist Reception for her
Senior exhibit titled Vanish this Friday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m.
in the Gypsy Ted Student Gallery.

Vanish: by Stephanie Fitts
On display from November 8 – November 12, 2010
in the Gypsy Ted Student Gallery
Artist Reception: Friday, November 12th, at 6:30 p.m.

Glitter Freeze

Join Alicia Morales and Nicolas Nieves II at the artist reception for their Senior exhibit titled Glitter Freeze this Friday, November 12, at 6:00 p.m. In the Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery.

Glitter Freeze: by Alicia Morales and Nicolas Nieves II
On display from November 8 – November 12, 2010
in the Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery
Artist Reception: Friday, November 12, at 6:00 p.m.