Student-curated exhibition at Faulconer Gallery

"Animals Among Us," an exhibition developed by an interdisciplinary team of 10 student curators, uses over 80 works of art to explore animals and how they inform our understanding of ourselves as humans. The exhibition will open on Friday, Apr. 5 at 4:15 p.m. in Faulconer Gallery.

Lesley Wright, director of the Faulconer Gallery, explains how she and the students of her "Captured Creatures" seminar developed "Animals Among Us." "Together we worked our way through the Grinnell College art collection, investigating images of animals created by artists from the Middle Ages to the present. From all that we explored, the students developed a theme for their exhibition. They selected the works that would be included and determined how to present and organize the works as they would be shown in the exhibition installation and catalogue."

The students built their exhibition around a few framing questions: How do we identify with animals? Can we control animals? How do we study animals? What do animals mean to us? And what is 'animal'? With art from Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia, the exhibition offers possible answers from a number of different disciplines, including anthropology, biology and art history.

Faulconer Gallery will host the following public events during the "Animals Among Us" exhibition:

• Fri., Apr. 5, 4:15 – 6 p.m.: Opening reception, refreshments will be served.
• Mondays and Thursdays, Apr. 8 – June 30, 12:15 p.m.: Yoga in the gallery with Monica St. Angelo for beginners and experienced practitioners. Co-sponsored by Live Well Grinnell.
• Thurs., Apr. 11, 7:30 p.m.: "Fresh Flutes" concert directed by Claudia Anderson.
• Thurs., Apr. 18, 8 p.m.: Madeleine Thein, Canadian short story writer and novelist, will read from her works. Co-sponsored by Writers@Grinnell.
• Sat., Apr. 20, 1:30 – 3 p.m.: Community Day for all ages to make animal sculptures, draw and pet live animals, listen to animal stories, and enjoy refreshments.
• Tues., Apr. 23, 4:15 p.m.: Panel of professionals from diverse fields will talk about their relationships with animals, including Suzanne Castello, farmer; Vicki Bentley-Condit, professor of anthropology; Tilly Woodward, artist; and Scott C. Hurley, Luther College Assistant Professor of Religion and Paideia.
• Thurs., Apr. 25, 7 p.m.: Open Mic at the gallery. Animal-themed contributions encouraged. Students, staff, faculty, and members of the community are all invited to take part in this event. Keyboard provided. Co-sponsored by the Grinnell Review.
• Tues., Apr. 30, 4:15 p.m.: Student curators from Lesley Wright's "Captured Creatures" seminar will speak about the works they researched for the exhibition.
• Wed., May, 8, 7:30 p.m.: Harp recital directed by Kristen Maahs.
• Sat., May 11, 1 p.m.: Enjoy coffee, juice, doughnuts and a selection of animal cartoons.
• Wed., June 5, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: Children and adults are welcome to spend time in the gallery drawing from current exhibitions. Stools, drawing supplies and feedback from outreach curator Tilly Woodward will be provided.

"Animals Among Us" is open through June 30 during regular gallery hours. Tues. through Sun., noon to 5 p.m.; open Thurs. and Fri. noon to 8 p.m.; closed Monday. On May 21 the gallery will switch to summer hours, Tues. through Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Faulconer Gallery is located in the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts at 1108 Park St. For more information about the exhibitions and related programs, call 641-269-4660 or visit www.grinnell.edu/faulconergallery. Information on parking and accessibility is available on the college website. Accommodation requests may be made to Conference Operations at 641-269-3235 or calendar@grinnell.edu.

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