The UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art invites you to a reception from 5 – 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, to welcome three new exhibitions at the Barrick, along with shows at the Donna Beam, Grant Hall Gallery, and Lied Library, that examine ways in which different artists have explored the intersection of identity and form. The reception is free and open to the public.
PLURAL
Plural features recently donated artworks from the UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art’s permanent collection that explore complex aspects of human identity through a range of traditional and unconventional media. Memory, passion, voice, excess, race, gender, and intersectionality all are brought into question as we search for ways in which a museum collection can reflect our own multifaceted understanding of who we are.
This exhibition features artwork by China Adams, Linda Alterwitz, Audrey Barcio, Tim Bavington, Elizabeth Blau, Catherine Borg, Diane Bush, Gig Depio, Andreana Donahue, Jacqueline Ehlis, Justin Favela, Ash Ferlito with Matt Taber, Noelle Garcia, Nancy Good, Maureen Halligan, Clarity Haynes, Stephen Hendee, Brent Holmes, Bobbie Ann Howell, Alexa Hoyer, Eri King, Branden Koch, Fay Ku, Wendy Kveck, Eric LoPresti, Julie Oppermann, Tom Pfannerstill, Krystal Ramirez, Kim Rugg, JK Russ, Sean Russell, Daniel Samaniego, Aaron Sheppard, Sean Slattery, Lance Smith, Brent Sommerhauser, Laurens Tan, Ryan Wallace, Mary Warner, Mikayla Whitmore, Thomas Ray Willis, Amy Yoes, and Almond Zigmund.
VESSEL: Ceramics of Ancient West Mexico
"VESSEL" explores the relationship between form and function through ancient West Mexican ceramics. The exhibition is organized by shape, and visitors are invited to contemplate how the form of each vessel informs both practical use and communicates ideas of power, identity, and belief. Curated by UNLV alumna and museum staff Paige Bockman, '15 MA Anthropology.
IDENTITY TAPESTRY by Mary Corey March
"Identity Tapestry" is both a portrait of a community and each individual participant. Inviting visitors to weave aspects of themselves into a participatory artwork, artist Mary Corey March gives us new insights into both ourselves and the people we see around us every day, opening our minds to reflection and healing in the aftermath of the Oct. 1 tragedy. The 20-foot-long installation, made of hand-dyed yarn, and statements of identity and lived experience that range from “I am a woman” to ” I am fortunate” will join UNLV’s permanent collection. This exhibition and accompanying programs are produced by the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art and Nevada Humanities, with support from the UNLV College of Fine Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Holly Lay and Brandon Lacow will hold receptions for their MFA thesis exhibitions in Grant Hall Gallery (Lay) and Donna Beam (Lacow), while the Lied Library opens "Building Las Vegas," a historical examination of the city’s architecture curated by Aaron Mayes.
Related Exhibition Programming
Mind This! Workshop on Mindfulness & the Art Encounter with Matthew Brensilver Sponsored by the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute and the Barrick Museum, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Museum Gallery
Artist Talk and Workshop: The Art and Science of Color Theory with Julie Oppermann Feb. 12, 7 p.m.
University Forum Lecture: What We Can Learn From Ancient Maya Ceramics by Laura Kosakowsky, professor of anthropology, University of Arizona, March 5, 7:30 p.m.
"Nevada Humanities Pop-Up Salon: Art with Social Purpose," May 4 at The Writer's Block. Free and open to all.
Other Projects
The Las Vegas Zine Library has found a new home at the Barrick Museum. Compiled by local zine custodians Jeff Grindley and Stephanie Seiler, the library encompasses eccentric and intimate home-made publications from all around the globe. Formerly housed within the walls of downtown's Emergency Arts behind the departed Beat Coffeehouse, the zines will be available for browsing at their new location during normal museum hours from Feb. 2 onward, with zinemaking workshops and programs to come.
Entry to the Barrick is always free.
