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“Art of the Athlete” exhibition returns to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art for its sixth year

EUGENE, Ore. -- (October 27, 2017) - The “Art of the Athlete” exhibition returns for the sixth year, featuring work created by University of Oregon student athletes participating in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and acrobatics & tumbling. The exhibition is on view at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, located on the University of Oregon campus, through February 8, 2018. The public is invited to a free reception on Wednesday, November 8, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Remarks and athlete appearances will be around 7 p.m. 

 

This year’s exhibition features work from the following student athletes: Gary Baker, football; Erin Boley, women’s basketball; Jacob Capra, football; Jordyn Fox Shaw, acrobatics and tumbling; Jalen Jelks, football; Dylan Kane, football; Sean Kilpatrick, football; Billy Gibson, football; Fotu Leiato, football; Rex Manu, football; Jonah Moi, football; Dexter Myers, football; Sam Poutasi, football; Jordon “Mac” Scott, football; Keith Simms, football; Keith Smith, men’s basketball; Adam Stack, football; Jalontae Walker, football, and La’Mar Winston Jr., football.

 

During the summer, 22 UO student-athletes participated in daily workshops learning color theory; studying artists, creating collaborative works of art, and painting self-portraits,” says Lisa Abia-Smith, JSMA director of education and curator of the program. “Their intention was to produce works of art that let them create a visual display of their true identities and backgrounds and challenge the viewer to look beyond the uniform.”

 

This year’s collection of work features self-portraits inspired by Kehinde Wiley and collaborative pieces inspired by Jackson Pollock’s action paintings. The works also address themes of representation and peace, including the role of unity and coming together as a nation after a heated year of political issues and violence.

 

“The artist’s statements next to their works reveal their desire to show the viewer aspects of their identities that are not always known to the public,” says Abia-Smith. “In some cases, students feel they are misidentified or labeled and the works of art and statements created in this class gave them an opportunity to present other dimensions.”

 

Art of the Athlete is made possible with support from the Cheryl and Allyn Ford Educational Outreach Endowment and Imagination International, Inc.

 

About the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

The University of Oregon's Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is a premier Pacific Northwest museum for exhibitions and collections of historic and contemporary art. The mission of the museum is to enhance the University of Oregon’s academic mission and to further the appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts for the general public.  The JSMA features significant collections galleries devoted to art from China, Japan, Korea, Europe, and the Americas as well as changing special exhibition galleries.  The JSMA is one of seven museums—and the only academic art museum-- in Oregon accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

 

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is located on the University of Oregon campus at 1430 Johnson Lane. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens. Free admission is given to ages 18 and under, JSMA members, college students with ID, and University of Oregon faculty, staff and students. For information, contact the JSMA, 541-346-3027.

 

Contact: Debbie Williamson Smith, 541-346-0942, debbiews@uoregon.edu

 

Links: Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, http://jsma.uoregon.edu