The MTSU Department of Art opens the spring 2015 semester in Todd Art Gallery with a celebration of four decades of service to the education of professional designers. Encompassing professions ranging from graphic design, illustration and typography to web design, photography and interactive design, the exhibit plays host to 32 alums from as far away as California and Connecticut.
Scheduled through Feb. 12, the exhibit is in a sense a homecoming and an acknowledgment of the important contribution of the study of graphic design and its alums to the art program at MTSU. A call to artists went out just after the exhibit’s direction was finalized. Almost immediately, Cathy J. Cobb-Walgren, the program’s first graduate in May 1975, when the field was referred to as commercial art, responded to the call.
by Neal Miles
“I was the first commercial art graduate,” Cobb-Walgren stated. “I went to work for Gresham and Smith Architects,” she says, showing even then the potential of design graduates to serve in a wide variety of artistic service areas. Cobb-Walgren now teaches at Georgia State University.
Alums were asked to submit completed work to showcase their current endeavors rather than produce something especially for Tracking Characters. Each was asked to also consider the inclusion of their artwork outside of graphic design as a supplement not only to themselves as artistic individuals, but also as a way to highlight the fact that many who work across varying media are artists in more than just one sense.
The list of those participating includes Aaron Rayburn, Abigail Atkins, Austin Hale, Ben Stewart, Brennan Scott, Cal Morton, Chip Payne, Chuck Stephens, Daniel Brown, Danielle Smith, Davion Baxter, Debra Naeve, Deena Cruz, Devin Warren, Ethan Farmer, Grant Cooley, Jenna Russell, Katie Clagg, Kelsey Greer, Kevin Tucker, Kyle Jones, Kyle Scudder, Lauren Wood, Louis LaPrad, Melissa Grabiel, Micah Loyed, Michelle Fizer, Neal Miles, Sean Hood, Shaun MacDavid, Stephanie Cobb and Suze Morton.
All Todd Art Gallery exhibits, lectures and receptions are free and open to the public. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closing only for holidays and exhibit installations. For more information, call (615) 898-5653.
