Helen Zughaib, “Syrian Migration #25,” gouache on board, 2019
The University of Central Arkansas’s Baum Gallery will host “Cultural Ties: Sonya Clark, Joyce J. Scott and Helen Zughaib” from Aug. 29 through Oct. 11, with an opening reception from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, at Baum Gallery.
Clark, primarily known as a fiber artist, is a professor of art at Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Previously, she was a Distinguished Research Fellow in the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University, where from 2006 until 2017, she served as chair of the Craft/Material Studies Department. She holds an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College.
For this exhibition, Baum Gallery has chosen to display “The Hair Craft Project,” which Clark says highlights the talents of 12 stylists in Richmond, Virginia’s hairdressing community. The series shows the stylists’ ability to manipulate the hairs on Clark’s own head, while also showcasing the stylists’ undeniable textile artistry on canvases stitched with thread.
“The project breaks down barriers by crossing boundaries between hair salons and art galleries as sites of aesthetics, craft, skill, improvisation and commerce,” says Clark.
Helen Zughaib, “Syrian Migration #14,” gouache on board, 2016
Joyce J. Scott is a jewelry maker, sculptor, printmaker, weaver and performance artist from Baltimore. She earned a bachelor of fine arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA from the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She also learned from her mother, Elizabeth T. Scott, who was an internationally recognized fiber artist. In 2016, Joyce J. Scott was selected to be a prestigious, nationally recognized MacArthur Fellow. Her work serves as commentary on many different issues, such as racism, politics and sexism. Her goal is to confront stereotypes, and she invites her audience to think deeply about real issues.
Helen Zughaib, “Syrian Migration #22,” gouache on board, 2017
Helen Zughaib is a Lebanese-born artist who specializes in paintings, drawing and fiber to provide subtle glimpses into Arab and American cultures with the intent of encouraging understanding and dialogue between the two. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University and currently lives in Washington, D.C. Her work is often optimistic in its scale, color and organized shapes. However, upon closer inspection, her work serves to spur the imagination of our viewers and encourage discussion about important current affairs.
For this exhibition, the Baum Gallery has received support from the UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication and the city of Conway Advertising & Promotion Commission.
ABOUT THE UCA COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION
The UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Music, Film, Theatre and Creative Writing, as well as the School of Communication. The college’s primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators, and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit uca.edu/cfac or call (501) 450-3293.
ABOUT BAUM GALLERY
The Baum Gallery is focused on providing contemporary art to inspire UCA students. The Gallery develops exhibitions and events that invite interaction and encourage dialogue about visual art. Come get inspired! Updates about events can be found at uca.edu/art/baum/ or on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and Instagram @BaumGallery.
