exhibitions
animalkind
Artists
- Sue Coe
- John Divola
- Nina Katchadourian
- Jean Lowe
- Tea Mäkipää
- Cyrus Mejia
- Melissa Miller
- Ernesto Pujol
- Ernest Silva
- Kiki Smith
- Lewis Stein
- Jeffrey Vallance
- William Wegman
Special Events
Keynote Celebration
Lecture by Sue Coe
Reception for the Artists
Lectures by the Artists
Thursdays at 4:00 PM, Art 412
March 5 - John Divola
April 16 - Ernest Silva
April 23 - Jeffrey Vallance
April 30 - Jean Lowe
Gallery Talk by Tina Yapelli
About the Exhibition
animalkind will explore a variety of relationships between non-human and human animals through a selection of works by artists from the United States and Finland. Employing diverse media, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and video, the artists represented in the exhibition investigate non-human animals as sentient beings inherently endowed with conscious thought. Their works go beyond pet portraits and traditional wildlife art to speak to our growing understanding of the animal mind and the complexities of animal-human interaction. For example, several of the artists examine the profound bond between animals and humankind while others present animals as metaphors for the human condition. As a whole, the exhibition will raise awareness of the treatment of food, entertainment and companion animals, humanity's relationship to wild animals, the potential pitfalls of animal research, and the cognitive and communicative capacity of the animal kingdom. Participating artists are Sue Coe (New York), John Divola (California), Nina Katchadourian (New York), Jean Lowe (California), Tea Mäkipää (Finland), Cyrus Mejia (Utah), Melissa Miller (Texas), Ernesto Pujol (New York), Ernest Silva (California), Kiki Smith (New York), Lewis Stein (New York), Jeffrey Vallance (California) and William Wegman (New York).
animalkind is organized and curated by Tina Yapelli, director of the University Art Gallery at San Diego State University. The exhibition is generously sponsored by the San Diego State University Art Council; the School of Art, Design and Art History; the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts; and the fund for Instructionally Related Activities. The University Art Gallery extends special thanks to the artists for their participation, and acknowledges the kind assistance of the following collectors and galleries: Laura Allen and Russ Mead, Jan and David Arnold, Nicole Bruck, Darren Cepulis and Eliana Bonfante, Jean Gee and Mark Cracolice, Colleen Grady, David Guss, Patty Hegwood, Catherine Howell, Carolyn Johnson, Sylvia and Gibson Martin, Colleen McMullen, Heidi Myers, Julie Palais and Rick Stevens, private collection, Nancy and Rick Shannon, Susan Silva, Barry Sloane, Patti Stovall, Ri Tarnpoll, Paul Wilson, Catherine Clark Gallery, Charles Cowles Gallery, Dunn and Brown Contemporary, Rosamund Felsen Gallery, Galerie Ramis Barquet, Galerie St. Etienne, Gallery Luisotti, Margo Leavin Gallery, McKenzie Fine Art, Sara Meltzer Gallery, Moody Gallery, PaceWildenstein, Projex-Mtl Galerie, Quint Contemporary Art, Marc Selywn Fine Art, Lisa Sette Gallery, Shoshana Wayne Gallery and Track 16 Gallery.