A special installation featuring the Santa Rosa Junior College art department faculty’s own work will run from Sept. 16 to Oct. 17 at the Robert F. Agrella Gallery. The opening reception will take place from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Once every three years the art department faculty displays its artwork. This year’s show features three self-selected pieces of various mediums including mixed media, paper, painting and sculpture.
“I’ve gotten a little peek at work submitted so far. I think it’s going to be really beautiful work,” gallery director and art department faculty member Hannah Skoonberg said.
According to Skoonberg, historically there have been two large shows each semester that filled both front and back galleries. In between those two shows, the gallery space was closed to visitors, and its windows were blocked to prevent passersby from seeing the installation process. The idea was to preserve “the big reveal,” she said.
This year, the Agrella Gallery increased its number of annual shows to three: two pop-ups, or temporary, less formal installations, and one larger traditional installation.
In addition to offering space for artists to show their work, the gallery also serves as a learning space.
“Gallery shows are always hung by students,” Skoonberg said, describing how the exhibits are prepared.
For those looking to learn how to develop and install art shows and gain insight into the professional practices required for running a gallery, SRJC offers ART53: Exhibition Design. The course is available during the fall and spring semesters.
But Skoonberg also encourages visits to the gallery to sketch, take photos and study.
“[We’re] just trying to get as much traffic in there as possible.”
