Whether you’re interested in art or simply looking to take advantage of the opportunities that come with a liberal arts education, here are some reasons to check out Gettysburg’s Schmucker Art Gallery.
Schmucker Art Gallery Talk, Image Via: Gettysburg College
Support Student Curated Exhibits
Schmucker Art Gallery hosts several exhibits throughout the semester, showcasing work from local artists and the college’s faculty and students. There is usually a student-curated exhibit either through an independent research project or Art History Methods class. For these works, students either use works from the college’s extensive collection or collaborate with an artist to display their work. There is also an annual competition for student class submissions known as the “Juried Student Exhibition,” which get displayed in the gallery space.
2016 Juried Student Exhibition, Opening Reception, Image Via: Gettysburg College
2016 Juried Student Exhibition, artist with artwork, Image Via: Gettysburg College
See Artwork from Accomplished Artists
Each of these exhibits are typically accompanied by an opening reception, a talk by the student curators, and/or an academic talk by the artist or faculty curator. These talks contextualize the pieces and make them more accessible, such as the intentions and process behind putting the exhibit together and some of the interesting findings from other students’ research. Discussions by the artists themselves about their process differ greatly from the analytical, scholarly conversations of curators. I personally try to pick up a catalogue from each exhibit of interest I attend, which include sample images of the exhibits works accompanied by explanatory essays.
Schmucker Art Gallery Director Shannon Egan introducing Cory Oberndorfer Pop: Artists Exhibit, Image Via: Gettysburg College
Christin Millett: Coronal Plane Exhibit Poster, Image Via: Gettysburg College
Art is a Catalyst for Cross-Disciplinary Discussion
Art provides a visual medium for representations of reality and current issues. Rather than mere aesthetics, art is often highly conceptual, which facilitates study from the position of a variety of disciplines. I have always found art and art history to be an intersection of history, mythology, politics, humanities, social justice, and current events. Depending on the art subject and exhibit, art may also touch on subjects and themes such as science, technology, literature, music, etc. Attending these different exhibits and talks provide exposure to different cultures, social issues, and perspectives. Additionally, because a forum of students and professors attend these talks, there are often interesting questions posed at the end of these talks that introduce alternative perspectives and further understanding.
Identities: African-American Art From The Petrucci Family Foundation Exhibit, Image Via: Gettysburg College
The Gallery Itself is an Aesthetic Space
I don’t know if it’s just because I love art museum spaces, but the Schmucker Art Gallery is really a beautiful space – there’s a reason there’s a weekly yoga session there. The transformation the gallery undergoes for different exhibits is remarkable, from paint color changes to sculptural installments.
Flora and Fauna in East Asian Art Exhibit, a student-curated event, Image Via: Gettysburg College
Paul Strand and Manuel Álvarez Bravo: Photography in Mexico Exhibit, Image Via: Gettysburg College
Further Information:
Check out these sites for more information on current and future exhibits to see if any pique your interest. Also, check out these sites below for more information on the kinds of exhibits that have been shown in the past, from the titles of exhibits, to their catalogue essays, to images from the events.
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Here is the navigation page for the Gettysburg College Schmucker Art Gallery, highlighting current and future exhibitions: https://www.gettysburg.edu/offices/schmucker-art-gallery/
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You can find a repository of past exhibits, talks, and catalogues (including images) on The Cupola, the college’s open access site: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/artgallery/