Open House for UNC Asheville’s Newly Opened Owen Hall, with Exhibits in Art and New Media

UNC Asheville’s renovated Owen Hall re-opened at the start of the fall 2021 semester, and the Department of Art and Art History and Department of New Media will host an Open House on Friday, Sept. 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the Asheville community.

The Open House will feature faculty exhibits from both departments. New Media will feature a data driven animation of US COVID-19 infections, vaccines and deaths; a machine learning animation concerning climate change; networked performance art; a virtual reality project that takes you back to 17th century Salem Massachusetts; creative fabrication work utilizing UNC Asheville’s STEAM studio; the Virtual Lincoln Project led by faculty and student researchers at UNC Asheville; and more.

“The Department of New Media is pleased to present its first faculty and staff exhibition at UNC Asheville. Our new facility in Owen Hall provides us the opportunity to showcase faculty research that engage cross-disciplinary collaborations and cutting-edge technologies in a dedicated gallery space. This exhibition features work in a variety of digital and traditional media, including video, interactivity, animation, print, digital fabrication and electroformed glass. We look forward to seeing you at the opening or during the installation period,” said Acting Chair and Professor of New Media Lei Han.

“The Department of Art & Art History is thrilled to return to the newly renovated Owen Hall, presenting the first faculty exhibition in five years in the expanded S. Tucker Cooke Gallery,” said Department Chair and Professor of Art Tamie Beldue, who will exhibit three works that were made during the renovation of Owen Hall. Each one depicts the skeletal structure of the building. “The exhibition features work from all current faculty and Professor Emeriti and highlights concentration areas within the department including Painting, Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Ceramics, and Sculpture…. The Department of Art & Art History is eager to share not only their work but the student work in progress during the faculty-led tours through the department studios.”

Guided building tours will be available, gallery spaces will be open, and refreshments will be served outdoors with room for social distancing. Masks will be required at all times in indoor spaces and capacity inside the building will be closely monitored in accordance with COVID guidelines.

RSVP for the event here.

Community Expectations

As members of this community, we care about everyone. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors have a shared commitment to take the necessary precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19 while following all recommended health guidelines. Please see UNC Asheville’s Community Expectations. Masks are required of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors.