Dylan Hayers, a senior natural resources major , looks at "Ultraviolet" by Hiromi Takizawa. Takizawa uses her cultural background for her artwork. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
Four internationally known artists’ pieces are incorporated in a new display in the Art and Journalism Building.
The School of Art and the College of Fine Arts has opened “Negotiating Distance: a Neon Invitational,” a gallery Wednesday night including neon art from artists Fred Tschida, Alicia Eggert, Hiromi Takizawa and Sarah Blood.
“We are doing this to highlight ... what we do in the school of art,” said Thomas J. Riesing, director of the school of art.
Last year’s main gallery was the show of metals, this year’s is the show of neon and next year there will be a show of animation, Riesing said. All of the show topics are programs offered at Ball State.
“Neon has a rich tradition,” said Aric Snee, Glick Center for Glass facilities manager. “What we’re interested in doing is using that history but updating it and using it for contemporary sculpture.”
Artist Alicia Eggert has two pieces in the gallery, including “Everything You are Looking For” and “You are on an Island.”
“Neon is a dying art,” Eggert said. “Using it for artwork is preserving the craft that has been around for over 100 years.”
All of the work was originally made for outdoors, and it is the first time that these pieces will be collected together in one building for viewing.
The show will be up for one month.
“It’s such a rare thing that you have an opportunity to put together a media specific show and then have the medium be so rare as neon,” Snee said.