Abstract painting by Michael Blair.

Michael Blair

The School of Arts and Humanities opens two art exhibits this week that will showcase work from current and former students, and from national and international artists

In the main gallery of the Visual Arts Building, artists with drastically different styles will team up to make collaborative installation pieces.

The opening reception for the show, which is called Monstrous Coupling, is Friday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m.

Andy Amato PhD’11 is curating the exhibit.

“The basic premise was to pair artists together in order to collaborate on installations, with the added complication being that the two artists work in different mediums or have different aesthetic sensibilities,” said Amato, who finished his doctorate in history of ideas last year.

“The hope was that something very strange and unusual would arise as a result of these odd pairings,” he said.

Collage with Big Yellow Stripes by Kevin Tadora

Kevin Tadora BA'05

Artists paired for the exhibit include Mike Morris and Nick Barbee; Kevin Todora BA’05 and Kristen Cochran; Rebecca Carter and Michael Blair; Morehshin Allahyari and Richie Budd; and Brian Fridge MFA’11 and Jenny Vogel.

In the mezzanine gallery of the Visual Arts Building, work from this year’s Bryce Jordan Scholarship recipients will be on display.

The annual award supports undergraduate students in music, theater, dance, creative writing, visual arts, and arts and technology. The 2012 recipients each receive up to $2,500.

A painting by Luke Herndon.

Luke Harnden

This year’s recipients include:

  • Eli Aalderink (Music)
  • Claire Bruce (Music)
  • Katherine Crowell (Visual Arts)
  • Cara Curley (Arts and Technology)
  • Devin Ewing (Arts and Technology)
  • Luke Harnden (Visual Arts)
  • Robert Howell (Creative Writing)
  • Pierre Krause (Visual Arts)
  • Dana Lieja (Visual Arts)
  • Sarah Martinez (Arts and Technology)
  • Narongsukchai Tintamusik (Visual Arts)
  • William Vulcan (Music)

“It’s been an honor to receive this scholarship. It took a chunk of my tuition and worries off my shoulders, and my academic successes have mirrored this,” said Eli Aalderink, a senior pursuing a degree in art and performance.

Bryce and Jonelle Jordan Scholarship Fund, established in 1981 to support undergraduate music students at UT Dallas, has since been extended to provide financial support to undergraduates in all of the creative and performing arts.

Both exhibits will be on display until Nov. 17 and are free and open to the public.