Throughout the Spring 2015 semester, Eugene Schilling, Adams State University professor of art, collaborated with eight artists to create paintings. “The Collaboration Project” opens September 28 and continues through November 5 in the Cloyde Snook Gallery. An opening reception is scheduled from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, October 3, in the Art Building. An artist lecture, by Schilling, begins at 6 p.m. in the Art Building room 227. The reception will continue for another hour following the lecture.
The Collaboration Project included Schilling and five former students Henry Blount, James Fuller, Ian Wilkinson ‘05, Nora McBride ‘11, Abel Tilahun ‘10, and three professional artists, Randy Pijoan, Stephen Quiller, and Barbara Leyendecker.
Schilling said the motivation for The Collaboration Project began over the last couple of years as he worked with selected students to create works combining different styles of painting. Typically, collaborative artworks consist of one artist working on a piece, and then passing to another artist. “My approach has been for both artists to work simultaneously to complete a painting that is experimental, spontaneous and based on a collaborative effort.”
He chose eight artists with different approaches of styles that would challenge and enhance each work over the period of the project. “I wanted to involve a mix of styles that would come together as one,” Schilling said.
Some paintings were finished in 24 hours; others took more than a week to complete. Each canvas is approximately 5’x 3’ and began with a conversation. “The project became more about the experience than the end result of each work.”
Schilling created a book of the paintings including a biography of each artist, a photo of their artwork, a photo of Schilling’s artwork, and the collaboration piece. The books, edited by Aaron Abeyta, professor of English, and design and layout by Fletcher Horton of Horton’s Art, will be for sale during the opening.
Quiller said although his and Schilling’s painting’s styles seem different, they actually have a lot in common. “We are both interested in color and water media. As a result, I found the collaboration very exciting.”
The Hatfield Gallery will host DeliRIOus in RIO, photographs by Pedro Jardim de Mattos, during the same time frame. The artist will be present at the opening.
For information call the Art Department Office at 719-587-7823.
