Reunion: Invitational Exhibition of 100 Alumni’ to be featured

As ETSU enters its centennial year, the university’s Department of Art and Design and Slocumb Galleries will commemorate the occasion with “Reunion: Invitational Exhibition of 100 Alumni.””Reunion” will be on display from Oct. 11-29 at Slocumb Galleries in Ball Hall and on Nov. 5 at the Tipton Gallery at 126 Spring St.

The exhibit, which is also co-sponsored by the ETSU Alumni Association and Centennial Steering Committee, features works by outstanding alumni identified by faculty as working with or being affiliated with prestigious museums, artists, galleries or academic institutions, or who have established successful independent careers.

“The enthusiasm and excitement generated by this exhibition are truly inspiring,” said Karlota Contreras-Koterbay, director of Slocumb Galleries. “The alumni are proud to come back to their alma mater, while current students are delighted at the prospect of seeing what their former peers are producing.

“The exhibition aims to encourage our students and alumni to take pride and look back to their alma mater, and celebrate with us the improvements we have achieved over the years, as well as to strengthen the support system among the alumni, students and the institution. Most importantly, this exhibition contributes to the ETSU Centennial Celebration, something everyone at ETSU can be proud of.”

In conjunction with the exhibit, a talk entitled “Promoting Art Through Social Networking” will be given by David Frazier on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 12:30 p.m. in the Ball Hall auditorium.

Also, several events are planned for Friday, Oct. 29, including “Reminiscing 100 Years of Art at ETSU,” a roundtable discussion by former faculty of the Department of Art and Design, from 3-4 p.m. in Ball Hall. Later, an Artists’ Panel Presentation will take place from 4-6 p.m. in the Ball Hall auditorium, followed by a reception with the artists in Slocumb Galleries.

Like the university itself, the Department of Art and Design has a rich history.

When East Tennessee State Normal School opened its doors in October 1911, drawing classes were offered by Elizabeth Slocumb under the Manual Training Department as part of the Domestic Arts Program. Slocumb later became the first chair of the Department of Art.

Following her retirement in 1952, the gallery operated by the department was named after her, in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of visual arts education at the school.

As East Tennessee State became a four-year teacher’s college in 1925 and expanded to a full state college in 1943, what is now the Department of Art and Design grew with it, training many undergraduate and graduate students, adding new concentrations and faculty, and earning National Association of Schools of Art and Design accreditation.

Art education dominated the program in its early years, but by the 1960s classes were offered in enameling, ceramics, weaving, drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. For years the department was located in the building that now houses the Carroll Reece Museum, but in 1965, under the chairmanship of John Benz, the Art Department was relocated to much larger space in Ernest C. Ball Hall, enabling the expansion of programs to include photography and graphic design, and, later, art history.

By the end of that decade, Tennessee had approved graduate programs, and in 1987 the university created the photography laboratory, expanded Slocumb Galleries into two spaces, and renovated the Art Annex that now houses ceramics and sculpture.

Regular Slocumb Galleries hours are 8-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Tipton Gallery is open in conjunction with downtown Johnson City’s First Friday celebration each month from 5-7 p.m. and by appointment.

For more information, Tipton Gallery viewing appointments, or special assistance for those with disabilities, call Contreras-Koterbay at 423-483-3179. As ETSU enters its centennial year, the university’s Department of Art and Design and Slocumb Galleries will commemorate the occasion with “Reunion: Invitational Exhibition of 100 Alumni.”

“Reunion” will be on display from Oct. 11-29 at Slocumb Galleries in Ball Hall and on Nov. 5 at the Tipton Gallery at 126 Spring St.

The exhibit, which is also co-sponsored by the ETSU Alumni Association and Centennial Steering Committee, features works by outstanding alumni identified by faculty as working with or being affiliated with prestigious museums, artists, galleries or academic institutions, or who have established successful independent careers.

“The enthusiasm and excitement generated by this exhibition are truly inspiring,” said Karlota Contreras-Koterbay, director of Slocumb Galleries. “The alumni are proud to come back to their alma mater, while current students are delighted at the prospect of seeing what their former peers are producing.

“The exhibition aims to encourage our students and alumni to take pride and look back to their alma mater, and celebrate with us the improvements we have achieved over the years, as well as to strengthen the support system among the alumni, students and the institution. Most importantly, this exhibition contributes to the ETSU Centennial Celebration, something everyone at ETSU can be proud of.”

In conjunction with the exhibit, a talk entitled “Promoting Art Through Social Networking” will be given by David Frazier on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 12:30 p.m. in the Ball Hall auditorium.

Also, several events are planned for Friday, Oct. 29, including “Reminiscing 100 Years of Art at ETSU,” a roundtable discussion by former faculty of the Department of Art and Design, from 3-4 p.m. in Ball Hall. Later, an Artists’ Panel Presentation will take place from 4-6 p.m. in the Ball Hall auditorium, followed by a reception with the artists in Slocumb Galleries.

Like the university itself, the Department of Art and Design has a rich history.

When East Tennessee State Normal School opened its doors in October 1911, drawing classes were offered by Elizabeth Slocumb under the Manual Training Department as part of the Domestic Arts Program. Slocumb later became the first chair of the Department of Art.

Following her retirement in 1952, the gallery operated by the department was named after her, in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of visual arts education at the school.

As East Tennessee State became a four-year teacher’s college in 1925 and expanded to a full state college in 1943, what is now the Department of Art and Design grew with it, training many undergraduate and graduate students, adding new concentrations and faculty, and earning National Association of Schools of Art and Design accreditation.

Art education dominated the program in its early years, but by the 1960s classes were offered in enameling, ceramics, weaving, drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. For years the department was located in the building that now houses the Carroll Reece Museum, but in 1965, under the chairmanship of John Benz, the Art Department was relocated to much larger space in Ernest C. Ball Hall, enabling the expansion of programs to include photography and graphic design, and, later, art history.

By the end of that decade, Tennessee had approved graduate programs, and in 1987 the university created the photography laboratory, expanded Slocumb Galleries into two spaces, and renovated the Art Annex that now houses ceramics and sculpture.

Regular Slocumb Galleries hours are 8-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Tipton Gallery is open in conjunction with downtown Johnson City’s First Friday celebration each month from 5-7 p.m. and by appointment.

For more information, Tipton Gallery viewing appointments, or special assistance for those with disabilities, call Contreras-Koterbay at 423-483-3179.