Internationally known multimedia artist to exhibit work
Art has taken Paula Clendenin to England, France and multiple states throughout the U.S. Now it will bring the West Virginian to Knoxville for a November exhibit at Pellissippi State.
Clendenin grew up in the small Appalachian coal-mining town of Cedar Grove, West Virginia, and she uses the inspiration of her childhood surroundings as the primary source of her art. That makes her a perfect fit for an exhibit staged in conjunction with Pellissippi State’s Common Academic Experience, a program in which one book—the Common Book—is selected each academic year to serve as a common denominator in developing curricular and co-curricular activities.
As the 2009-2010 Common Book, “Storming Heaven” by Denise Giardina is required reading for many Pellissippi State students. It is also the centerpiece for activities ranging from author presentations to film viewings. All activities have in common the themes found in the novel, which explores the negative impact of a coal company on a small West Virginia town in the early years of the 20th century.
Clendenin’s artwork is evocative of environmental concerns about coal mining and mountaintop removal.
“I have always been interested in things that require a closer look in order to be appreciated,” said Clendenin. “Multiple layers and layered meanings distill into a singular visual thought, into a form that evokes an inner recognition, a form that suggests the resonance of a certain land, of neglected surfaces, of the passing and absorption of time.”
The artist, whose works have been shown in collections ranging from the Library of Congress to London’s International Art, Ltd., has been the recipient of prestigious resident fellowships in France, Vermont and New Hampshire. Clendenin’s art is mixed media, making use of everything from enamel, latex and oil paint to graphite, metal and even coal dust.
An opening reception with the artist is set for November 6, 5:30-8 p.m. The reception and exhibit are in the Gallery of the Bagwell Center for Media and Art. Both events are free and open to the public.
Clendenin’s work will be on display through November 19. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For additional information, contact Sydney Gingrow, associate professor or English, at 694-6445.
|
