Bite From the Apple

BFA Student Exhibition, Florida State University

On display through June 1, 2024

Munroe Family Community Gallery

Bite From the Apple is an exhibition spotlighting the transformative journey of the Bachelor of Fine Art students at Florida State University. Serving as a catalyst for emerging visual artists and designers, the FSU BFA program fosters independence and nurtures creative excellence, equipping graduates for dynamic careers in design, fine art, and craft. Aligned with FSU’s dedication to innovation and scholarship, the BFA curriculum encourages rigorous conceptual development and cultivates a spirit of inquiry. Guided by dedicated faculty mentors, the students embark on thrilling adventures of independent research, fueled by curiosity and creativity, poised to shape the future of the arts. 

This exhibition is organized by award-winning artist and Professor of Painting and Drawing, Carrie Ann Baade, and BFA student, Nicolina Morra.

Thornton Dial, Sr.

On display through June 13, 2024

Bates Permanent Collection Gallery

Thornton Dial, Sr. was a self-taught artist whose assemblages, created from found materials, brought attention to sociopolitical issues including racism, homelessness, and war. Dial worked for decades before realizing that what he created would be considered “art,” and is now considered one of the creative geniuses of his time. This exhibition presents a selection of Dial’s assemblages from the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum Permanent Collection.

Major Exhibitions are made possible by The Impact Fund

Gadsden Arts Artists Guild

On display through June 8, 2024

Bates Community Room

Enjoy the third Artists Guild exhibition of 2024, on view in the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum’s Bates Community Room through June 8, 2024. On display is artwork by Douglas Bondurant, Deborah Bullock, Kathy J. Ferrell, Ellen Fournier, Debbie Gaedtke, Sal Guastella, Bob Huskey, Sandra Lipner, Mary Jane Lord, Janice “Ecinja” McCaskill, Jill Quadagno, Stephen Bennett Smith, Debra Spitler, and Karen Stewart.

Image: Douglas Bondurant, Still Searching, 2023, oil

Present Tense: Critical Conversations on Contemporary Landscapes

On display through June 29, 2024

Bates Permanent Collection Gallery

Presented in three parts, Present Tense pairs the monumental painting, 15 Canvas Study of the Grand Canyon by beloved Pop painter David Hockney, on loan from Art Bridges, with the work of Florida artists at various stages in their careers. The first piece featured alongside Hockney’s work is a painting by Dean Mitchell (on loan from the artist) from his award-winning Reservation series. These social realist works depict the poverty found in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Native American community located in Arizona, breaking from the often romanticized views of the American West. In the spring, work by collaborative team Christopher Rivera and Sam McCoy present works created in a plein air process that mirrors Hockney’s work. Both aim to capture what Hockney called the essence of an “unphotographable place” in the vast spaces of the outdoors. Part three highlights the capacity of contemporary art to raise awareness, mixed media artist Holly Hanessian discuss concerns about human impact upon the environment through their work.

Generous support for this project is provided by Art Bridges.

Image: David Hockney “15 Canvas Study of the Grand Canyon” 1998, oil on 15 canvases, 66 1/2 x 65 1/2″ overall © David Hockney Photo Credit: Richard Schmidt