The Wilson Gallery has recently opened its exhibit showcasing items from AU’s permanent collection housed on campus.
This collection, titled the Legacies of Modernism, displays numerous artists’ works within the artistic styles of modernism and expressionism.
Tai Lipan, the director of the Wilson Gallery, explained the importance of displaying the Legacies of Modernism collection and the other various AU-owned collections.
“Over the course of three years as director of university galleries, I have slotted one Wilson exhibit slot to showcase the permanent collection’s work,” Lipan said. “It is important that the university remembers the resources it has in the galleries with the Brady Print collection, the Otto Flath Collection and these works by artists heavily inspired by Modernist traditions.”
As explained by Lipan, the Legacies of Modernism exhibit is one of the art collections fully owned by AU. Lipan spoke on how the unique opportunity for displaying one of AU’s personal collections came about, following the rescheduling of another exhibit.
“An exciting opportunity to partner with the York Children’s Literature Festival was scheduled for spring, where illustrators would exhibit their work in the Wilson Gallery,” Lipan explained. “We will be able to schedule this for next year. This has left us with the open slot in order to exhibit this show from our collection. We will not have typical opening events but will have the Wilson Gallery open for viewing Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
The exhibit, which Lipan explained as “heavily influenced by European Modernism”, includes the works of “European Modernist Francis Littna and New York- based Pennerton West, a prominent artist in New York during the advent of Abstract Expressionism.”
Due in-part to COVID-19, the Legacies of Modernism exhibit will be up until November; the exhibit will be replaced when the Wilson Gallery hosts the Visual Communication Design Student Exhibit.
Lipan went on to explain her desire for students and staff to take advantage of this unique collection of works, along with the other owned collections already on display.
“I hope that during this semester students and the broader campus will take the opportunity to view the Wilson exhibits as well as the other galleries,” said Lipan. “The Jeeninga Museum and Sallman collection will be open by appointment this semester but we are always excited to open the spaces. All you have to do is send me an email and I will get you in.”