Art news from Jonesboro

Bradbury Gallery in Fowler Center at Arkansas State University once again has planned a outstanding season of exhibitions by students, faculty and independent artists. The gallery will begin its 2013-14 season in late August.

Les Christensen, director of Bradbury Gallery, said the first exhibition will feature works by two artists, Basil Alkazzi and Carroll Cloar. These shows open Thursday, Aug. 29, and continue through Sept. 29.

“An Odyssey of Dreams: A Decade of Paintings by Basil Alkazzi 2003-2012” will feature 34 paintings from the most recent decade of the artist’s long career.

“Drawings by Carroll Cloar” will include some reminiscent sketches of the rural life that the late Carroll Cloar experienced while growing up in the Mississippi River Delta region of Eastern Arkansas.

“This season begins with two exhibitions held concurrently,” Christensen explained. “The Alkazzi series was inspired by his immersion in the sun-drenched, natural beauty of the Mediterranean where he resides. His abstracted landscapes and oversized views of vegetation are more visionary than representational.

"The nearly monochromatic, minimal drawings by Cloar are a nice counterpoint to the intense color found in Alkazzi's work,” she continued. “This year marks a century since Cloar's birth and we are delighted to be able to exhibit work by this exceptional Arkansas artist.”

Faculty members in the Department of Art will exhibit their work during the 2013 Faculty Biennial, which opens Thursday, Oct. 10, and continues through Nov. 13. Always a popular show on campus, this edition will give special prominence to paintings by Roger Carlisle, who plans to retire next spring, concluding a 40-year career on the Department of Art faculty.

Three graduating senior art students will be included in the Fall Senior Exhibition, which opens Thursday, Dec. 5, and continues through Dec. 14. Students Anthony Griego, JoAnna Jarosz and Michale Riggs will be displaying some of their recent work.

A highlight of every Bradbury Gallery season is the Delta National Small Prints Exhibition, which will open Thursday, Jan. 30. Founded in 1996, the DNSPE has grown to become one of the country’s foremost annual competitions for prints. The exhibition’s juror, Lyle Williams, curator of prints and drawings at The McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, will select the various purchase awards.

“Disparate Acts: David Bailin, Warren Criswell and Sammy Peters” features the work of three Arkansas artists. Although they are close friends who have met for lunch every other week for nearly 27 years, this will be the first time their artwork has been exhibited together.

Their exhibit will open Thursday, March 13, and continue through April 16.

The Bradbury season will close with the Spring Senior Exhibition, which opens Thursday, May 1, and continues through May 17.

“As always, we look forward to the new school year and seeing our many friends who return to visit the gallery and enjoy the new season of exhibitions we have planned,” Christensen added. “I would like to invite anyone who has not yet visited the Bradbury Gallery to join us for the opening reception at the first exhibition on Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.”



Admission to the Bradbury Gallery in Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Dr., is free. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon until 5 p.m., and Sunday from 2 until 5 p.m.