An art critic and an artist, in their first visit to Ball State, will showcase spiritual and intermedia art through art exhibits, receptions and a lecture.
Donald Kuspit, art critic and professor of art history and philosophy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, will give a lecture at 5:30 p.m. today, "Revisiting the Spiritual in Art," in the Ball State University Museum of Art's Recital Hall.
John Fillwalk, assistant professor in electronic art, said Kuspit will talk about artists whose works are inspired by spirituality.
Both Kuspit and Intermedia artist Hans Breder will be present at the reception following the lecture to talk with attendees.
"Kuspit is the most renowned art critic in the world," Fillwalk said.
Sarojini Johnson, professor of art, encouraged art fans to attend Kuspit's lecture.
"Everybody needs to be there to hear what a great man has to say," Johnson said.
Kuspit is a contributing editor of several journals, including Art Criticism, Art Forum, New Art Examiner, Sculpture and Centennial Review. He wrote more than 20 books, numerous articles, exhibition reviews and catalog essays. He is known for psychoanalysis and research on neo-expressionism, the movement inspired by German expressionism of the 20's and 30's.
Breder, distinguished professor emeritus of art at the University of Iowa, will exhibit his art works at Ball State's museum and gallery. The exhibit includes one large Plexiglas sculpture and several smaller sculptures, paintings, drawings, video and digital photographs.
Breder attracted a large crowd at an opening reception on Jan. 15 at the Museum of Art.
"We had a record crowd of 200 people," Peter Blume, director of Museum of Art, said.
Blume said visitors responded favorably to Breder's works.
"The works are beautiful, easy to see and look at," Blume said.
Breder's exhibit titled "Intermedia works: 1964-2003" will be at the Atrium Gallery from Jan. 15-30 and "Enacting the Liminal" at Ball State University Museum's Special Exhibition Galleries from Jan. 15 to Mar. 7.
Fillwalk said intermedia is an art form that combines different media such as visual art, music, literature, religion, dance, physics, philosophy, sociology and psychology.
"It breaks down the boundaries between different disciplines." Fillwalk said.
Fillwalk said Breder focuses on the liminal, a threshold to a transcendent consciousness, and he uses his art to evoke this in his viewers.
Fillwalk said this is a real opportunity for students to see a high-profile artist and a critic.
"They're on the top of their fields," Fillwalk said. "They could give students a lasting impression on art."
Dustin Musick, senior photography major, said he likes Breder's interactive CD-ROM installation titled "The Nazi Loop" because it allows viewers to interact with it.
Musick praised Ball State art professors for bringing in famous artists. He said meeting the artists opens up a different world to art.
Breder has had his works exhibited in three Whitney Museum of American Art Biennials, the Kitchen and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the MIT List Visual Art Center and in museums and galleries in Australia, Germany, Japan and Russia.
Kuspit, Breder and Fillwalk will collaborate on a DVD artwork incorporating Kuspit's poetry that will premiere Mar. 1 at Ball State University's Museum of Art.
The artist and critic's visit and exhibit are made possible by the Lilly Endowment Inc. and Ball State University's Center for Media Design through the $3.5 million "Building the Four-Year Commitment" grant.
Art fans will have more opportunities to see exhibits of high-profile artists at Ball State this semester. Johnson said the department has plans to invite more artists to campus.
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