Artwork by Charles Thompson and Bistra Nikiforova on exhibit at Campus Center
The works of two artists, Charles Thompson, B.S., M.F.A., a ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ professor of art, and, Bistra Nikiforova, Ph.D., a ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ assistant professor of communications, both in the Department of Arts and Communications, will be on display at the ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€šÃ„ôs Biddeford Campus Center March 2 - April 2, 2013.
Founder of the Department of Creative and Fine Arts at the ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥, Charles Thompson has been a long time devotee of “plein air” painting. For thirty years, he has painted exclusively on location, and his landscape paintings have been shown in over twenty solo shows and one hundred group shows throughout the United States and Europe. While maintaining his painting career, he has made clay pieces in the studio, which he is now showing for the very first time. These small, clay wall reliefs are based on his previous paintings.
Bistra Nikiforova’s research focuses on the impact of media on the discursive construction of gender and class and the symbolic strategies for exercising institutional power control. Her photography exhibit “Post Cards” invites the viewer to see destinations as private, everyday experiences. In her photos, the image of place is transformed from a replica of mass-experience that the tourist passively consumes into reflections of vibrant communities in which the artist actively participates. “When we succeed in freeing our gaze from the marketing induced frames of reference, we become more sensitive towards the ordinariness of the place and learn to notice details about its class, gender, and power relations,” said Nikiforova.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€šÃ„ôs Campus Center is located at 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, contact Diane Noble.