The Owens Community College Department of Fine and Performing Arts welcomes Lee Fearnside and Simone Spruce as this year’s Artist in Residence.
Lee Fearnside
Artist in Residence
“Death Never Dies”
This artwork mourns 27 public figures who died in 2020 with essays and poetry by 40 writers paired with relief print portraits. The public figures range from Eddie Van Halen to Ellis Marsalis Jr., George Floyd to Jim Lehrer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Kobe Bryant. By reflecting on people through words and images, this project asks who and what do we want to say goodbye to, and who and what do we want to remember. Together, these images and words help us understand our relationships to each other and to ourselves during this tumultuous year.
Simone Spruce
Artist in Residence
“Out of the Dark”
This installation has two sections. The first section is shrouded in cloth to create a dark space as the art is illuminated individually by spotlights. This work includes images from Spruce’s “To Serve and Protect” series. In “To Serve and Protect 2” Spruce asked viewers to remember that George Floyd had a mother. His death unified mothers around the world. Remember, a mother’s love is a mother’s love. In his last breaths, George called for her. There are no features on the officer and the black man’s features are not distinct. Spruce chose to paint the image in that manner because of the long history of police brutality.
ABOUT ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
This program brings to Owens Community College professional visual artists from across the nation. Each artist is featured in the Terhune Art Gallery during the summer months and given the opportunity to develop new artwork. The Center for Fine and Performing Arts will provide the facilities and tools for the artist in exchange, the artist will give instructional courses and educational programming for our students, faculty, staff and community. Email gallery@owens.edu to fill out an application.