For 61 years, the Student, Staff, Faculty and Alumni Exhibition has been a rousing success 鈥� and this year鈥檚 incarnation is no different.
With representation from each of the above groups the exhibition, which runs until December 21, features a variety of art in various forms and media. Attendees at last Thursday鈥檚 opening reception were able to explore the works and hear many of the community artists speak about their work and where they draw their inspiration from.
A few pieces stood out in particular, like staff member Jim Neale鈥檚 untitled work featuring a black and white photo of a young boy with blue eyes. The photo is so incredibly expressive; you feel real emotion coming from the small face in the frame. This is a theme reflected throughout the show: how the art of the Dal community not only surprises, but inspires.
Another example of this was a painting from Jock Murray, former dean of 蘑菇AV Medical School. The painting featured a train shown through white birch with snow blanketing the surrounding landscape. The painting depicted a scene familiar to many Canadians, evoking Christmas travels to see family or cross-country trips with friends.
Dr. Murray says that this is the painting he most often receives comments on, as it tends to remind people of their childhoods: 鈥淣o one really takes train trips anymore, but we remember the train going by, and waving to the engineer as kids.鈥� He says he鈥檚 actually done many paintings of trains, and that they are something that particularly appeals to him.
Despite this, Dr. Murray鈥檚 pieces featured in the show are actually quite varied. They include the train, but also a scenic painting and a painting of surgeons in the operating room. 鈥淚鈥檝e tended to get an idea and ruminate a lot, and then I do it,鈥� he says. 鈥淢any artists have a kind of work they do, but mine is just based on a moment that I want to capture.鈥�
Circulating through the gallery, there were many captured moments to be seen 鈥� indeed, something for everyone.
