Dr. Matthew Bailey finalizes the first exhibition at The District Art Galleries by AV抖阴.
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AV抖阴 Art & Design Curates Galleries at the Bakery
Written By: Samantha Contreras
A collaboration between The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith and The Bakery District will introduce a new arts venue to the heart of downtown Fort Smith this June.
The District Art Galleries by AV抖阴 will bring fine art to unconventional exhibition spaces at The Bakery, building a forum for community engagement with the arts as part of an ongoing partnership between The Bakery, the AV抖阴 Gallery of Art & Design, and the AV抖阴 Department of Art & Design.
The inaugural exhibition, 鈥淧rocess/Experience/Place鈥� is being installed this week, and will feature the work of local artists Mary Elkins, Jarrod Cluck, and Owen Buffington, all of whom serve as adjunct art faculty at the university.
The exhibition will run from June 1 through September 18, with a reception celebrating the installation and the partnership to be announced soon. Viewing is free and the exhibition is open to the public during the open hours.
鈥淭his space will be another visual art center in Fort Smith and will expand the presence of our AV抖阴 Gallery and Department of Art & Design in the downtown area,鈥� said Katie Waugh, chair of the Department of Art & Design. 鈥淭his is a vital forum for contemporary art that I hope the AV抖阴 and Fort Smith communities will enjoy.鈥�
The gallery will showcase local, regional, and national artists鈥攂oth emerging and established鈥攚hose work demonstrates contemporary trends in the visual arts. Taking place across several spaces in the district, exhibitions will be held quarterly with the intent to develop a continuous, competitive program of modern and impactful installations that truly engage the community.
According to Dr. Matthew Bailey, AV抖阴 gallery director, the District Art Galleries will also be a training ground for AV抖阴 students in art gallery practice. 鈥淭he training aspect is intended primarily for art students to gain art handling and gallery experience, though volunteer opportunities will be open to any interested student,鈥� said Bailey. 鈥淰olunteers will assist with exhibition installations, and in the future, we hope to utilize this venue as part of our developing academic program in art handling and museum practice.鈥�
鈥淭his past year, Dr. Bailey has initiated a program of hiring student workers for the Gallery.鈥� said Waugh, noting that Bailey has hired two student gallery assistants and one intern in 2022. 鈥淭hese opportunities are an important extension of our students鈥� academic programs and working on exhibitions in this new space will expand both their academic understanding and their professional repertoire in developing exhibition spaces and overcoming design challenges.鈥�
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