This year, Herron School of Art and Design’s popular, community-focused, summer exhibitions will feature Fine Art Furniture and Painting.
A June 14 reception in Eskenazi Hall from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. will open Experimental: The work of Phil Tennant with selected Herron alumni in the Berkshire, Reese and Paul galleries. In the Marsh Gallery will be Surprising Successes, a selection of paintings and playful works by Lois Eskenazi.
A one-night-only sale in the Basile Gallery of 16 works ranging in price from $150 to $3000 will provide an opportunity for attendees to add to or begin their own collections. The sale of prints, sculpture, photography and ceramics by artists including Barb Bondy, Robert Horvath, Bob Shay, Paul Weir and Kevin Wolfe will benefit Herron programs.
The event is free and open to the public. The exhibitions continue through July 25.
In substance, Experimental offers a glimpse at the legacy of Professor Phillip Tennant, not only through his own, sought-after creations, but through work by some of his former students. Tennant will retire from Herron in May after 38 years. He founded Herron’s Furniture Design Program and helped place Herron among the very top programs in the country.
Experimental includes works by Furniture Design alumni Nick Allman, Erin Behling, Chris Bowman, Ray Duffey, Nicholas Hollibaugh, Matt Hutton, David Lee, Jason Raimy, Cory Robinson, Ted Ross, Tom Tedrow and Ruby Troup.
Collectors who loaned work by Tennant include Vaughn and Melissa Hickman, Mark and Carmen Holeman, June McCormack, Dorit and Gerald Paul, Ora Pescovitz, Dr. James and Nancy Chesterton Smith, Joyce Sommers, Dr. Christopher and Ann Stack and Donnie and Judy Walsh.
“These eagerly-anticipated exhibits highlight the talent within our own community and feature works of art either created or collected by Hoosiers who have made art central to their lives, some through formal, scholarly training and some by other paths,” said Herron’s Dean Valerie Eickmeier.
“Professor Tennant’s work has been exhibited galleries, universities and museums nationally and featured in Fine Woodworking, American Craft Magazine and Furniture Studio. Over the span of his career, he has developed a rich vocabulary of forms and techniques that beautifully unite balance, structure and expression.
“Lois Eskenazi deferred her pursuit until her family was raised and then traveled far and wide to study and hone her technique. Her award-winning works show a mastery of oil painting and great sensitivity to subject matter,” Eickmeier continued. “Among the variety of works in these exhibitions, any art lover will be able to find something inspiring.”
