View from the Art Village

View from the Art Village

Date published: March 7, 2017

“View from the Art Village: Fifty-Year Retrospective,” features forty artists who are alumni of the Braniff Graduate School. This exhibition, curated by Nancy Cohen Israel, will allow viewers to witness the depth and breadth of artistic talent that has come out of the University of Dallas, from 1967 to 2017.

“What makes our pioneering graduate art program so unique, now more than ever, is that the school does not produce only one type of artist, nor do its graduates share a school ‘style.’ Rather, each student pursues their own artistic vision with singular dedication to the process of creating art,” said Gallery Manager Christina Haley.

An artist catalog showcasing the exhibit’s works, with essays by both Israel and Professor Emeritus of Art Lyle Novinski will accompany the exhibition.

“Current students are creating a display of archival material, mainly exhibition announcements of masters exhibitions over the decades,” Haley said.

One such current student, Tony Veronese, submitted an oil on canvas painting, Badland.

“Abandoned structures and materials have developed a larger presence in my current work and the painting is a result of what I was thinking about at the time this was happening,” Veronese said.

Still a student for the next three to four months, Veronese reflected upon the influence of the University of Dallas during his artistic endeavors.

“My time at UD has been about of leaving behind what was visually familiar for me to do,” Veronese said. “So I wanted to submit something I didn’t think would have been explored had it not been for my time here.”

Nancy Rebal, MFA ’84, is an artist in the Dallas area and has submitted NEWS, a tableau of fired clay figures, to the exhibit. Rebal painted the figures with acrylic paint and added detail with pen and ink.

“My source is the Bayeux tapestry,” Rebal said. “The premise is that today’s newsworthy conflicts are alarming replays of historic dramas. The extreme turmoil engulfing all of us at this time in history makes it urgently pertinent — and personal.”

Though already in the middle of her artistic career, Rebal sought an MFA experience that would strengthen her work. She found such a constructive environment at the Braniff Graduate School.

“When I began my MFA I was well into my career as a professional artist, but restless for challenging dialogue and critiques,” Rebal said. “Classical liberal arts infuse the campus and deeply affected my work.”

Citing the “inherent structure” of the Art Program, Veronese acknowledged the rigor and community that make the University of Dallas influential in his development as an artist.

“Hopefully when I leave the program, I’m not just leaving with better work, but I’m also trained to stand on my own two feet professionally,” Veronese said. “That kind of conditioning has been an influence on my character, not just my work.”

Another important influence? His fellow students.

“I’d say the second largest influence is my fellow grads because we work together day in and day out,” Veronese said. “The program maintains a low graduate population in the art village and that means we tend to become our own artistic collective at times. Ideas, techniques, debates and reviews are standard ‘water-cooler’ talk here.”

A close-knit artistic community and the depth and breadth provided by the liberal arts are not the only facets of the University of Dallas that have affected the artists’ works.

“Through Professor Lyle Novinski, I found a whole second career in liturgical art, from painting crucifixes to designing stained glass for churches across the country,” Rebal said. “It felt like a great service, to connect modern worship spaces to the riches of historical western art.”

These opportunities have given rise to Rebal’s many excellent artistic creations. How does Rebal fare in her relentless pursuit of art? Exceedingly well, as she enjoys having both the studio and the time to do her best work.

“What I had always hoped for is the life I am living now,” Rebal said. “Art making is my daily preoccupation.”

Veronese’s greatest hope as an artist? His answer was simple: “Painting.”

Please join us in celebration of these artists and the exciting milestone of 50 years of graduate education. The reception is free and open to the public. Friends and family are very welcome.

Reception: March 24, 2017 | 6-9 p.m. | Beatrice M. Haggerty Gallery

Exhibit Dates: March 24 - April 29. Please note that the gallery will be closed Friday 14th and Sunday the 16th of April  in observance of the Easter holiday.

Exhibit Hours:

Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.