Boone, NC — Appalachian State University Art Department's Exhibitions Practicum class, led by Jody Servon, is proud to announce the upcoming exhibition, Flight & Constraint: Exploring Our Bond With Birds, located at the McKinney Alumni Center. The exhibition opening reception will be hosted on April 30th from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This unique event offers viewers the chance to immerse themselves into the multifaceted and complex connections we share with birds.
To explore the idea of Flight & Constraint, the ART 4012 class has curated an exhibition using the permanent collection of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. The visual imagery of birds and the environment that surrounds them investigates how our relationship with birds transcends beyond observation. The artwork in this exhibition emphasizes humanity's connection with birds through the lens of symbolism, spirituality, and environmental responsibility. These nuanced themes are depicted and analyzed across a diverse range of artists and artistic mediums
By featuring an assorted range of artists, the curators aim to visually depict the unique Appalachian environment and showcase a variety of bird types. Through interactive elements, such as statements highlighting key works of art, the exhibition emphasizes the hope that birds will persevere through their resilience and thrive despite challenges arising from direct and indirect interactions with humans. Flight & Constraint invites you to observe and cherish the natural world, while also urging viewers to recognize our collective environmental impact on birds.
"The Flight and Constraint exhibition aspires to transcend the boundaries of conventional art viewing, offering visitors a transformative and engaging experience. It recognizes that art appreciation is not solely about aesthetic enjoyment but can also serve as a powerful educational tool. By immersing viewers in the beauty and intricacies of bird-themed artwork, the exhibition aims to evoke feelings of wonder, gratitude, and responsibility toward birds and the natural world. Each piece of artwork becomes a window into the complexities of our relationship with the avian realm, inviting reflection on our interconnectedness between humans and nature." Said Mandy Bass, Junior Studio Art - Sculpture (B.F.A.), Art and Visual Culture - Art Management (B.A.)
This exhibition was curated by Appalachian State's Exhibitions Practicum class. This exhibition would not be possible without the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, which generously shared its expertise and collection with us, and the McKinney Alumni Center, which contributed space, time, and resources. Special thanks to the Art Department and the Smith Gallery for the opportunity and their support in curating this exhibition.
The student curators of the Exhibitions Practicum course hope that this exhibition will serve as a catalyst for reflection and action regarding our intricate relationship with birds and wildlife.
For more information, including the McKinney Alumni Center hours and location, please visit this link.
Save the Date!
April 30th | 12:30 pm - 2 pm: Opening reception at the McKinney Alumni Center: 553 Blowing Rock Rd. Boone, NC 28607
Public parking is available in the Rivers Street Parking Deck and in downtown Boone.
About the Exhibitions Practicum Class at Appalachian State University
This practicum course introduces students to the fundamental principles and practical responsibilities of managing and maintaining art exhibitions. Students gain experience planning, promoting, designing, and installing exhibitions and events. By meeting with trained professionals and practicing applying learned skills, students leave this class with the experience of outlining and executing an art exhibition through a collaborative team effort.
About the Department of Art at Appalachian State University
The Art Department's mission is to engage students in visual art and design as preparation for creative careers and responsible global citizenship. This mission is achieved by cultivating students' abilities to see, think, and respond in visually creative manners through involvement with a broad range of practical and theoretical issues in art education, art history, art management, commercial photography, graphic arts and imaging technology, graphic design, and studio art. Through community arts programming, internships, field trips, student exhibitions and international study, the Art Department provides students meaningful opportunities to interact with the larger art and design world. The Department maintains a faculty whose members are committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, creative activity, and relevant professional activities. Further, the Art Department celebrates a diversity of thought, encourages creative risk-taking, and supports multi-disciplinary inquiry and collaboration.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University's College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more about the college at https://cfaa.appstate.edu
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls 21,253 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Appalachian State Student Contact
Olivia Hoagland
hoaglandoj@appstate.edu
Flight & Constraint
Flight & Constraint