The MAC | The McKinney Avenue Contemporary
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact(s):
Fernando Rojas & Emily Cheek
The MAC
+1.214.953.1212
macmembership@the-mac.org
The MAC presents the exhibition “Academia: Pushing the Boundary” with innovative works of the faculty of University of Texas at Arlington, Brookhaven College and Sofia Art Academy instructors
The MAC’s June 26, 2008 – July 11, 2008 Exhibition presents contemporary artists that while teaching create progressive art work.
DALLAS, Texas, 09-June-2008 10:00AM The MAC announces Academia: Pushing the Boundary, an exhibit featuring the remarkable works of a group of scholars living, teaching and producing art in North Texas with. Opening with a gala reception on June 27, 2008, the exhibition runs through July 11, 2008. The works of the faculty of University of Texas in Arlington will be in the large gallery, the faculty of Brookhaven College in the square gallery and teachers of Sofia Art Academy in the new works space. Benito Huerta, Associate Professor and Director of Gallery at UTA will curate the show in the large gallery. David Newman, Art Gallery Director at Brookhaven College will collaborate as adjunct curator for the works of its faculty.
The works will cover a wide variety of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, glass, and video. The MAC will celebrate the diversity of contemporary art media and the important artistic contribution of the scholars creating a feast for the senses within the galleries. The exhibit aims to expose the benefits of cultivating intellectual human capital through education.
In addition, The MAC will host an art talk where a panel of 6 artists who will talk about their work as artists, professors and contemporary art innovators. The panel will be composed by two representatives from each institution (soon to be announced).
The MAC will showcase innovative works of Andy Anderson, Kenda North, Bryan Florentin, Narcel Reedus, Bart Weiss, John Hartley, Janet Chaffee, Nicholas Wood, Nancy Palmeri, Dalton Maroney, Fred Spaulding, Robert Hower, Marilyn Jolly, David Keens, Michelle Murillo, Andrew Ortiz, Leighton McWilliams. Betsy Belcher, Jim Burton, Barbara Brault, Chong Chu, Beau Comeaux, Kace Davis, Elizabeth Hurtado, Lisa Ehrich, Corey Johnson, Natalie Macellaio and David Newman, Sofia Khunteyev and Igor Khunteyev.
Liliana Bloch, Director pro tem states: “The MAC is honored about the opportunity to have together three outstanding institutions deeply involved not only in contemporary art instruction, but the personal challenge of further evolving as an artist and a scholar.” She adds: “We want to show Dallas how different artistic training converges in mastering technique and a constant search of new challenges as a human being.”
About UTA Faculty
The Department of Art and Art History has a growing reputation as a center of creative and academic excellence in Texas. The Department is a rich and varied educational environment for the study and practice of art and art history.
Its mission is to provide the intellectual, technical, and instructional resources to support the development of professional artists who view art making as a process of inquiry and self-discovery. UTA’s comprehensive Art & Art History program offers a wide range of subjects.
The Gallery at UTA hosts important regional and national exhibitions. The department also has an active Visiting Artist program and links with international exchange programs.
The University of Texas in Arlington is proud to honor the tradition of the MFA degree. As stated by Robert Hower, Chair of Art and Art History at UTA: “MFA programs have changed, challenged and expanded our cultural lives. Each academic program has a unique vocabulary and personality due to the conceptual diversity of its faculty/artists and student/artists, yet there is a thread of consistency that focuses on the important search for ideas.”
About Brookhaven Faculty
Evident in their range of works, the Art Department faculty at Brookhaven College School of the Arts is notable for the diversity of engagement across the range of studio practices. Exhibiting artists who teach, artists for whom their studio practice is at once individual professional activity and research that informs and sustains their teaching. The Brookhaven College Art faculty provides both traditional skills and exploratory and experimental approaches, with no aesthetic position emphasized over another. Emphasis is on the development of the individual student’s understanding and creative practice within the expanding field of contemporary art.
The Art Department at Brookhaven College provides a transfer curriculum forming the first two years of undergraduate education in art, typically leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the undergraduate professional degree in studio art leading to professional career or graduate study. Additionally, the department serves members of the community who are returning to school to prepare for graduate study, to augment professional skills, and personal enrichment. In May 2008, nineteen students transferred to complete the B.F.A., at institutions including the Rhode Island School of Design, Corcoran College of Art and Design, Parsons, Tyler School of Art/Temple University, The University of Texas at Austin, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the School of Visual Arts; and an additional eight Brookhaven students will begin graduate study this Fall at institutions including Washington University in St. Louis, University of South Florida, Pratt, and Boston University.
About Sofia Art Academy
Sofia Art Academy was founded by Igor and Dr. Sofia Khunteyev in 1993 as the first traditional European-style classic art school for children and adults in Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. By utilizing the best traditions of European art academies, they are committed to provide students with a strong knowledge in academic style painting, drawing, design, and composition.
Dr. Sofia Khunteyev has been teaching art in universities of Europe and schools of USA for over thirty years. She received her Master of Fine Arts from Tashkent State Institute of Theater and Art (Uzbekistan) and her Ph. D. from Tbilisi State University (Georgia). She is a member of the Union of Designers (Russia), and Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (USA).
Dr. Khunteyev received numerous awards and recognitions for been one of the top fine arts educators and professional artists. Her teaching experience includes classic style art, book illustrations, portraiture, fashion and graphic design.
Igor Khunteyev has over twenty years experience in teaching traditional, classic style art. He received his Master of Fine Art from Tashkent State Institute of Theater and Art (Uzbekistan). After moving to USA, he received the degree of AAA in Multimedia Production and worked as an art director of interactive designs for corporations such as Ernst & Young, and advertising agencies like Tracy Locke.
Mr. Khunteyev is a member of the Association of Graphic Designers, USA. His teaching experience includes classic style art, book illustrations, portraiture, and interactive graphic design.
About the MAC
Established in 1994, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC) is a nonprofit organization that stands as Dallas advocate for creative freedom offering the opportunity for experimentation and presentation of art in all disciplines. It supports the emerging and established artist roll in society providing a forum for critical dialogue with their audiences. This relationship is cultivated through education and innovative programming. The MAC cultivates this relationship through education and innovative programming. The MAC is a member of Dallas Art Dealers Association and The Uptown Association.
More information can be found at: www.the-mac.org
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Trademarks / Copyrights
The MAC, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, its name and logo are registered Copyrights of The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) tax-exempt corporation. Other names may be trademarks and or copyrights of their respective owners.
This announcement is provided to you solely for information purposes. Many factors can materially affect The MAC exhibit plans. The MAC specifically disclaims any liability with respect to this information.
Contact(s):
Fernando Rojas Emily Cheek Liliana Bloch
Membership Liaison Gallery Coordinator Director pro tem
+1.214.953.1212 +214.953.1212 +1.214.953.1212
fernando@the-mac.org emily@the-mac.org lbloch@the-mac.org
McKinney Avenue Contemporary
3120 McKinney Ave. Dallas, TX 75204
+1.214.953.1212
www.the-mac.org