'Ten African American Artists,' 'Recent Gifts' focus of new exhibitions at UD

12:44 p.m., Jan. 26, 2012--University Museums of the University of Delaware will re-open for the spring semester on Wednesday, Feb. 1, with two new exhibitions on the Newark campus featuring art from the 1960s to the present.

Mechanical Hall, dedicated to African American art, will present the exhibition Magical Visions: Ten Contemporary African American Artists, on view from Feb. 1 through June 29.

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

• Doctoral hooding
• Old Swedes
• Summer SAT, ACT prep
• 'Opus 13' pre-sale

Guest curated by artist and critic Keith Morrison, the exhibition explores the identity of African American art in media encompassing painting, sculpture, photography, video and textiles.

Ten artists represent a range of generations:  Terry Adkins, Sonya Clark, Melvin Edwards, Sam Gilliam, Barkley L. Hendricks, Kalup Linzy, Odili Donald Odita, Karyn Olivier, Faith Ringgold and William T. Williams.  A catalogue is available.

The public is invited to attend a reception with Morrison on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 5-6:30 p.m. Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP to universitymuseums@udel.edu or 302-831-8037.

The West Gallery in Old College Gallery will present New Art at UD, showcasing acquisitions and gifts of art made to the University since 2008. The exhibition will be on view from Feb. 1 through July 20.

A gift from collector Donald Rothfeld of works by contemporary sculptors, including Lisa Hoke, Frank Gerritz and William Tucker, significantly expands into the contemporary the University’s holdings in American sculpture.

Paintings and drawings by Floyd Coleman, Felrath Hines and Peter Williams contribute to a growing collection of African American art, while works by Elmer Bischoff, Donald McLaughlin, Louis Stettner and Ben Wilson provide a new breadth to the University’s holding of art since 1967.

The public is invited to attend a conversation about New Art at UD with artists Donald McLaughlin and Peter Williams, as well as David Meyer, Robert Straight and Virginia Bradley, on Thursday, March 1, at 4:30 p.m. Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP to universitymuseums@udel.edu.