The University of Mary Washington Galleries is hosting two exhibitions: “Crowded Spaces: Allison Long Hardy” from Friday, January 20 through Sunday, February 5 at the duPont Gallery; and “Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2012” from Friday, January 20 through Friday, February 24 at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery.

The opening receptions for both exhibitions were held on Thursday, January 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the duPont Gallery and the Ridderhof Martin Gallery. Anne Timpano, director of University Galleries, presented a purchase prize and $2,000 in awards at the reception for the “Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2012” exhibition. Admission is free to the receptions and exhibitions.
“Crowded Spaces” showcases the work of artist Allison Long Hardy, adjunct professor in the Department of Art and Art History at UMW. The exhibit explores the ebb and flow of crowds; how crowds exist, move and dissipate as a cohesive unit; and how communication travels through crowds. Hardy’s works of pen, graphite, colored pencil and collage were inspired by her recent residency at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Va.

“Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2012” offers a snapshot of the painting medium through the work of 17 artists, including David Barr of Falls Church, Va., Jason Bronner of Lock Haven, Penn., Cassie Clements of Huntington, W.Va., Eric Garner of Bethesda, Md., Allan Gorman of Upper Montclair, N.J., Anna Kell of Lewisburg, Penn., Jacqueline Levine of Arlington, Va., So Yoon Lym of North Haledon, N.J., Darren McManus of Lambertville, N.J., Andrew D. Moeller of Ridgewood, N.J., Bongkyun Noh of Centreville, Va., Radio Sebastian of Alexandria, Va., Sharon Shapiro of Louisa, Va., Gilbert Trent of Washington, D.C., Scott Turri of Pittsburgh, Penn., Michael Weiss of Baltimore, Md., and Naijun Zhang of Morgantown, W.Va. The exhibit is a representation of some of the current themes in painting. Claire Huschle, executive director of the Arlington Arts Center, will serve as juror of the exhibition. Active in arts administration in the Washington D.C. area, Huschle is the 2010 recipient of the AAUW Elizabeth Campbell Award for the Advancement of the Arts in Arlington.
Both galleries are located on College Avenue on the Fredericksburg campus and are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The galleries are closed during university holidays and breaks. Free parking for gallery visitors is designated in the lot on College Avenue at Thornton Street. For directions and more information, call (540) 654-1013 or visit http://galleries.umw.edu.
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News release prepared by: Brynn Boyer