The Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery opens Flora and Fauna, a nature-focused open-call art exhibition juried by artists Alice Dillon and Rachael Drinker on Oct. 24. Flora and Fauna features artwork that focuses on our relationship with the natural world. The exhibit aims for visitors to reconnect with nature, and, perhaps with a long-lost sense of innocence, child-like wonder, and environmental consciousness. Flora and Fauna will run at the Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery of Worcester State University from October 24th through December 14th. The opening reception will be Thursday, October 24 from, 4 – 7 p.m.
“Flora and Fauna came together when we noticed that many of the art pieces submitted to other shows had elements of plants and animals in them, sometimes as the main focus and sometimes as the background. Either way, they were so present in the work that we decided it was time to let them shine, give them the focus, and see what artists would come up with. The quality and breadth of work we received for this show is a testament to just how much artists like to use Flora & Fauna as their inspiration,” said Gallery Director and Worcester State University art professor Stacey Parker.
Artworks in Flora and Fauna will be juried by Alice Dillon and Rachael Drinker.
Alice Dillon is a fiber artist from Worcester, MA. Her work focuses on hand-stitching, with themes of identity, communication, and linear design. She has exhibited her work throughout New England, including the Fitchburg Art Museum, Danforth Art Museum, The Dolphin Gallery, Gallery 263, the New Hampshire Art Association, and more. Dillon is currently the associate director of ArtsWorcester, where she enjoys producing exhibitions of the many regional artists that she exhibits alongside at other institutions.
Rachael Drinker is a farm and outdoor educator at Turn Back Time in Paxton and a teacher naturalist at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston. She has been a nature enthusiast since her childhood, having grown up on a small homestead in Vermont. She moved to Massachusetts eight years ago to study environmental science and policy and landscape studies at Smith College. She deepened her love for flora and fauna during her time as a gardener in the college’s botanic gardens. Since then, she has worked for farms, gardens, and schools, where she has adored offering people of all ages the opportunities and tools to build their confidence in the outdoors.
Worcester State VPA’s Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery offers five main exhibits interspersed with shorter term events throughout the year. The gallery invites artists in all stages of their careers along with our faculty and students to exhibit works that explore the established, edgy, and innovative ideas in the artistic world. The gallery’s mission is to contribute to the cultural offerings of the region by exhibiting work of vitality and interest in the contemporary art world.
Gallery Hours:
- Wednesday 11 .am. – 5 p.m.
- Thursday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m..
- Friday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday 1 – 5 p.m.
For more information regarding upcoming exhibitions and art offerings, contact the gallery at Gallery@worcester.edu or 508-929-8651, or visit the gallery online via wsuvpagallery.com.
Top Photo: A detail of Break of Day by Joel Crisafulli.
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