A Mississippi State University professor’s work is the premiere exhibit in the new Colvard Student Union art gallery.The exhibit, entitled “Brent Funderburk: Outside / Inside – A Retrospective – 25 Years,” shows 10 paintings completed by the artist in the last 25 years.
“In a retrospective you’re asking people in advance, ‘Hey, can I take that off your wall,'” Funderburk said.
The watercolor and oil paintings came from his gallery in Memphis, the L. Ross Gallery, which belongs to Linda Ross and other works from private collections, gallery director Bill Ross said.
Funderburk said it takes more than five years of work to be able to have a retrospective.
“You have to be old to have a retrospective,” he said. “I’ve been here for about 20 years.”
The exhibit was chosen because they needed an artist who could be flexible with the opening of the new Union.
“We have to find a sucker who would be willing,” Funderburk said. “I take it as an honor to be considered.”
Art department head Kay DeMarsche said that Funderburk was a perfect choice because he has been in the department of art for many years.
“His exhibition will celebrate this wonderful collaboration between the department and the Union to have top notch shows throughout the year,” DeMarsche said.
While the committee for the Union gallery wants to stay flexible with the exhibits that could possibly come to the area, the exhibition calendar will hold about six exhibits a year, Andrews said.
“Samantha Musil, assistant director of the Colvard Student Union, is in charge. She leads a committee with representatives from the department of art, which has faculty and student representation,” Andrews said. “The committee accepts applications for exhibition and makes sure that the gallery serves the interests of the MSU faculty, staff and student community, as well as the Starkville community,” he said.
The gallery is located in the middle of the second floor of the Union, across from the ballroom.
“I’m thrilled about this space. It’s well lit. Art should be at the hearth of the Student Union,” Funderburk said.
“The metaphor is that a college campus is the bastion of college culture. It should at its center make visible the discourse of great ideas, in addition to football championship trophies.”
As students walk through the Union, they have been stopping to notice the gallery.
“I think it’s great for it to be in the Union. It adds more interest to the Union having a gallery inside,” said Karen Ervin, a fine art senior said.
She said that the angle of the space creates a good flow and the lighting is excellent for the pictures and paintings.
Undeclared freshman Tim Dyer said he does not go to see much art, but he said he does see the value of the gallery.
“It probably won’t be something I go look at very often, but it’s good for others to go enjoy,” he said.
The Union gallery, along with the new gallery in the Cullis Wade Depot, gives students at MSU four art galleries.
“We have an incredible amount of galleries for a university,” Andrews said.
DeMarsche said the central location of the gallery reflects the new administration’s commitment to support art.
“The increase in the numbers of galleries on campus, along with the recently initiated Public Art Program, will add a great deal to everyone’s quality of life on campus,” she said.
“Art is not limited to a chosen few, it is something that is accessible to everyone,” she said.