Monmouth University’s Summer Music and Arts festival is now in its third season—and it’s first as an in-person event – in the theatres and galleries across campus. With student performances, a visual arts exhibit and an eclectic evening concert – there truly is something for everyone to enjoy.
Women’s History: Passion and Power features the work of Julie Dzikiewicz a Virginia-based artist. Dzikiewicz works in ancient encaustic technique using melted wax as paint. The wax is layered and re-fired to create luminous, stained-glass effects and three-dimensional texture. She also incorporates lights and other media to develop depth and richness. Dzikiewicz’s choice of subject is unflinching, using large powerful images to depict her subjects which include themes of violence, racism, and misogyny. “My studio is on the site of the Occoquan prison, which once held and imprisoned Suffragists who picketed the White House. Inspired by this history, this series of work tells the stories of the Suffragists and modern women who work to advance Women’s Rights.”
This exhibition shines a spotlight on the late Miriam Beerman, a New Jersey artist whose works are included in the permanent collections of over 60 museums worldwide and a female pioneer in the 20th-century art world. Beerman (1923–2022) was one of the 20th-century’s most provocative artists, whose humanist expressionist works highlight her talent as a colorist. A pioneer as one of the first female artists to be given a solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Beerman is part of a canon of 20th-century women artists who were nearly lost to obscurity due to their gender in a male-dominated art world. Influenced by the social injustice seen around her, Beerman shines a spotlight on the horror and pathos of man’s inhumanity to man. The themes prove to be timeless, resonating today as much as when they were created in the 20th century. Her life and art were explored in the 2015 documentary Miriam Beerman: Expressing the Chaos.
An exhibition of work by artist Jeanine Pennell.
This exhibit features work by painter Scott Nickerson and his core group of advanced students, and is a great example of the powerful influence one master painter can have on a school of artists.
Selections from the Monmouth University permanent collection featuring works by various artists, including: by Eduardo Arranz-Bravo, Hannah Barrett, Salvador Dali, Bruce Dorfman, Peter Milton, Joan Miro, and Russell Tyler, and more.
As told in their own voices through art and film this juried exhibit seeks to share some of the diverse lived experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming older adults (T/GNC). This exhibit centers T/GNC individuals’ unique narratives and make their lives visible. The artwork chosen celebrates the strength and resiliency of these individuals while also sharing the painful challenges encountered. The process of living authentically may instill hope and bring joy, but often this process involves losses and pain as well. The purpose is to increase understanding and knowledge of the lives of T/GNC older adults while supporting Monmouth University’s commitment to create an inclusive, affirming, and equitable campus community.
The Elephant in the Room calls attention to threatened and endangered animals, encapsulating their expressive nature through emotional representation. By addressing the “elephant in the room” these wood fired portrait-esque pieces bring awareness to species that have been brought to the brink of extinction due to human interference and have been forever impacted by these interactions.
“Les Paul: Thru the Lens” explores the life of pioneering musician and innovator Les Paul. Through a series of 24 photographs, visitors will see a chronicle of Paul’s life, career, and achievements: his early performances as Red Hot Red, his marriage to and work with Mary Ford, his explorations in the recording studio and with the electric guitar, and of course his long and influential performing career.
Featuring the work of Monmouth University graduating seniors who will receive their degrees from the Department of Art & Design.
