EDITOR’S NOTE: THE LECTURE WITH SHARON LEE HART AND ASHLEY OATES HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS. The John & June Allcott Gallery and the Hanes Visiting Artist Lecture Series will present Sharon Lee Hart (MFA ’07) and Ashley Oates (MFA ’01) in an alumni exhibition from Jan. 17 to Feb. 7, 2013.
Hart will also deliver the Hanes Visiting Artist Lecture on Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. in the Hanes Art Center, room 121.
Hart has published her recent photographic work as Sanctuary: Portraits of Rescued Farm Animals. Her poignant black and white portraits celebrate the lives of farm animals and make a passionate plea to animal lovers everywhere. The book reveals the unstoppable spirit of farm animals and pays tribute to their emotional, social, and intellectual lives.
“In my work I investigate the relationship between humans and other animals and how non-human animals are represented in a myriad ways in our culture,” Hart noted in her project statement.
Continuing with the themes of Hart’s project, Oates uses photography and gouache to construct retables that document, honor, transform and hold tight the many different heroic animals who find their way to her. These animals, at times powerless to the whims of humans, metaphorically represent many subjugated people who are powerless to the unreliability of those in control.
“This series, Burrow, uses photograms to explore the binary relationships of strength and fragility; truth and fiction; protection and vulnerability,” Oates stated.
An endowment established in 1983, through the generosity of Nancy and Robin Hanes, supports the art department’s Visiting Artist Series. This program brings both established and emerging artists to campus to discuss their work in public lectures and to offer individual critiques to MFA students.
The lecture is free and open to the public. The exhibition reception will be Jan. 17 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
