News

Friday, October 3
The Historic Broad Business Association presents the third annual Broad Avenue Art Walk on Friday, October 3rd from 6-8 pm. The walk will feature galleries and open studios on Broad Avenue between Hollywood and Collins. In Gallery 1 of West Memorials at 2481 Broad is a viewing of recent work by MCA alum David Nester. There are open studios at Dan Spector’s Archicast at 2527 Broad, Gerry Coulliard’s Metalworks at 2537 Broad, as well as Adam Shaw’s Studio at 2547 Broad. Material at 2553 Broad presents Quiet Pioneer, new paintings by Carrie Pollack. The newly relocated Urban Art Commission hosts an open house at 2549 Broad Avenue with work by MCA alum Lester Julian Merriweather, and works by two MCA students: an outdoor fence installation by Siphne Sylve, and a rooftop video projection by Ashley Gerst. At 2613 Broad, Oddessa hosts an exhibition featuring work by Douglas Degges, MCA alum Richard Gamble, Alexandra Carter and Ben Moss. At 2574 Sam Cooper, McCarty Partners has an open house with an exhibition in their newly renovated art gallery space and downstairs is an open house and a group show at Splash Creative. Additionally visitors can stop by the either Broadway Pizza or The Cove for refreshments. Contact Hamlett Dobbins, 901.219.1943, hamlettdobbins@hotmail.com or Larry Patton at 901. 324-6006, larrypatton@mac.com for additional information.

Monday, October 6
MCA and Luna Nova present Control and Collaboration, a multimedia project presentation, October 6, 2008 at 12:00 noon in Callicott Auditorium.The community is invited to join video artists, performers, and composers in Control and Collaboration, a discussion of the balance between individual control and group collaboration in the creation of new multimedia projects. Organized by Jill Wissmiller, Assistant Professor and Head of Digital Media at MCA, and Patricia Gray, President of Luna Nova, Control and Collaboration connects composers and performers in an educational dialogue to broaden exposure to new and collaborative genres. Participants include John McMurtery, a section flutist of the New York City Opera Orchestra; James Carlson, a composer of works for dance, chorus, orchestra, voice and chamber ensembles; cellist Craig Hultgren, a long-time activist for new music, the newly creative arts, and the avant-garde; and composer and pianist Andrew Drannon who is currently finishing a M.M. degree in music composition under Kamran Ince at the University of Memphis.

Saturday, October 11
MCA hosts Career Day for all students parents and teachers October 11 from 9 am unitl noon in the Main Gallery. Registration and tours are from 8:30 to 9:00 am. Click here for more information.

Wednesday, October 22
Join MCA and MPACT Memphis in Creative Conversations October 22 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm in Callicott Auditorium. Creative Conversations are local gatherings of emerging leaders in communities across the country and are part of a grass roots program to elevate the profile of arts in America during National Arts and Humanities month every October.

Friday, October 24
A DVD Release Party for The Arts Interviews: Series Three, celebrating artists Mimi Dann, Luther Hampton, Jameson Jones, and John McIntire is October 24 from 6-8:30 at MCA. The evening includes a wine tasting with paired foods, an art exhibit, and a screening of The Arts Interviews: A Compilation, which features all 17 artists who have been honored to date. Click here for more info.

Thursday, October 30
Meet and greet at the Graduate Studio Open House October 30 from 6-9 pm at MCA's Graduate Center, 1939 Poplar. The community is invited to the informal gathering hosted by our MFA, MAArtEd and MAT candidates to learn about the graduate programs, view student artwork and studios, and meet students, faculty and program directors.

Friday, October 31
MCA and the University of Memphis host Allegory and Identity, the Society for Photographic Education South Central (SPESC) Regional Conference, October 31-November 1. Click on the link for complete conference and registration information. MCA is the conference venue on Friday, October 31 and invites the public to view artists performances at 4:00 pm followed by a panel discussion at 5:00 pm featuring the artists from The Camera is Her Theater, Robin Lasser, Adrienne Pao, Erin V. Sotak, and Morgan Konn.

An opening reception for Yours and Mine follows at MCA's on the street gallery from 6-9 pm.

Saturday, November 1
College bound students from the Mid-South region have the opportunity to discover if they have what it takes to become an artist or creative professional Saturday, November 1, 2008 when MCA hosts National Portfolio Day from 10 am to 4 pm. At National Portfolio Day, student artists have the opportunity to meet with representatives from almost twenty accredited art colleges and university art departments. College representatives review and critique student work, provide information about their colleges and assist prospective students in developing their college plans. Registration and tours begin at 10 am while information about financial aid, careers in art and portfolio preparation is shared from 11 am – noon. Portfolio reviews are from noon to 4 pm. Students should bring their portfolios, which may include finished pieces as well as works in progress and sketchbooks.For more information about National Portfolio Day, contact MCA's Office of Admissions at (800) 727-1088 or by e-mail at info@mca.edu. Additional information about the National Portfolio Day Association can be found at www.portfolioday.net.

On Exhibition

Main Gallery

The Camera is Her Theater opens October 6 and continues through November 7, 2008. Works by photographers Robin Lasser, Adrienne Pao, Erin V. Sotak, and Morgan Konn are on view, with artists performances and a panel discussion beginning at 4:00 pm on October 31, in conjunction with the SPESC Regional Conference.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 4:00 pm. 

on the street

Water Works, an exhibtion of watercolor paintings by three premier painting professors in Memphis: Susan Maakestad of Memphis College of Art, Erin Harmon of Rhodes College and
Beth Edwards of the University of Memphis, continues through Octboer 18 at MCA’s downtown gallery on the street. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Yours & Mine, a photo exhibition by Anne Leighton Massoni and Chelsy C. Usher In conjunction with the SPESC Regional Conference, opens October 23 to November 15, 2008. An opening reception is Friday, October 31, 6-9 pm.

on the street is located at 338 South Main, immediately west of the venerable Raiford's Lounge. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 4-9 pm, and Saturday, noon to 5 pm. All events are free and open to the public.

Community Education

MCA's Saturday School and Continuing Education begin soon! Course offerings include:

Open Life Drawing Studio
No art training is complete without continued study of the human form drawn from life. Our studio is open for your convenience, and a model is provided. A $10 ($5 for MCA students) fee per session is payable upon arrival; there is no need to register in advance. Monday evenings, through Nov. 24, 6:30-9:00 pm.

Portfolio Development
For students serious about attending art school, this course provides an opportunity to develop and prepare a college-ready portfolio. Working from observation, students are given projects that help prepare them for college-level drawing courses. This is a must-have course for students seeking art college acceptance or scholarships. Saturdays, Oct. 4–Nov. 15, 1–4p.m.

For more information and a complete list of course offerings, click here to download the complete Community Education catalog.

Call 901.272.5142 for more information about MCA's Community Education programs or email commed@mca.edu.