Smoyer Gallery
September 13 - December 8, 2024
Opening Reception September 13, 6-8pm

Exhibition Images

Johnny Floyd’s exhibition, “Child Be Free” explores our relationship with time and how we define ourselves within its bounds. Influenced by conversations with his grandfather, a theoretical physicist, Floyd delves into questions of purpose and identity, often through the lens of recursion theory, where repetition leads to revelation.

Through experimentation with paper, sewing, and digital manipulation, Floyd intertwines archival imagery with themes of ancestry and connection. Drawing inspiration from The Center for Studying Structures of Race’s project on naming unnamed enslaved individuals who contributed to Roanoke College's history, Floyd intertwines archival African-American vernacular photography from the Maurice Berger Memorial Archive and Library with themes of ancestry and connection. By utilizing the Black experience in the United States as an analogy for the constructs of time, his art aims to deconstruct and question the necessity of these constructs, inviting viewers to contemplate their own temporal identities.

*The Maurice Berger Archive and Library is housed within The Center for Studying Structures of Race at Roanoke College

In collaboration with the Center for Studying Structures of Race, funding for this exhibition is provided by the Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo Center for Art at Roanoke College

Image Credit: The Magician, 2024, 32 x 44 inches, India ink, watercolor, and cotton thread on archival paper, (Image from the Joanne Casullo Collection at the CSSR Archive)

www.blackspaceprogram.com

Olin Gallery
September 13 - December 8, 2024
Opening Reception September 13, 6-8pm

Exhibition Images

"Freedom is Not a Metaphor" by Sandy Williams IV presents a collection of works spanning photography, sculptures, research, and installations. Through personal narratives and historical contexts, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the construction and contestation of memory. Williams intertwines family portraits with discussions on public space, challenging conventional narratives and encouraging dialogue on agency and historical injustices. Their innovative approach, seen in works like The Time Ruler series, prompts reflection on collective memory and cultural moments.

The exhibition serves as a platform for diverse voices to engage with the complexities of public memory, advocating for reconciliation and collective healing. By highlighting struggles against oppressive systems and emphasizing liberation and justice, Williams reminds viewers of our collective strength and the potential for transformative change. "Freedom is Not a Metaphor" prompts us to confront our shared consciousness and envision a more inclusive and just society built upon a deeper understanding of our history and identity.

In collaboration with the Center for Studying Structures of Race, funding for this exhibition is provided by the Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo Center for Art at Roanoke College

Image Credit: The (Bronze) Wax Monuments Series, 2022, various dimensions

www.sandywilliamsiv.com

Lower Smoyer and installation at the former enslaved peoples' living quarters on campus
September – October 2024

Exhibition Images

Our Copenhaver Scholar-in-Residence recipient, Clover Archer, a multifaceted artist and curator, will be joining us at Roanoke College from September to October 2024. With a rich background spanning photography, drawing, performance, texts, video, and installation, Archer brings a unique perspective to her work, which often delves into granular histories and the ordinary moments often overlooked by time.

As the former Gallery Director at Washington & Lee University and curator at the Waynesboro Heritage Foundation, Archer has extensive experience in both artistic creation and exhibition curation. During her residency, Archer will collaborate with our community and The Center for Studying Structures of Race contributing to the Genealogy of Slavery Research Project and inviting participation in her ongoing Clew Registry, which documents the minutiae of everyday lives. Through workshops, presentations, and installations, Archer will engage students, faculty, and the wider community in thought-provoking discussions about the subjective nature of historical records and the intricacies of personal legacy.

Institute for Clew Studies Website

SUBMIT ARTWORK HERE

Olin and Smoyer Gallery
January 31 - March 16, 2025
Opening Reception January 31, 6-8pm
Awards Announced at 6:30pm

The Juried Biennial at Olin Hall Galleries has been exhibited every two years since 1990. The juried exhibition exemplifies works of art from artists within 200 mile radius of Roanoke College. Fine Arts media including but not limited to painting, sculpture, graphic design, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, video and photography are accepted for submission.

Juror
James Salomon is the Director of Design Projects at Achille Salvagni Atelier in New York. His decades long experience began with Mary Boone, then his own galleries in East Hampton and New York. He has curated numerous gallery and institutional exhibitions, and also facilitated adventurous art projects, like Norma the Art Kar by Kenny Scharf which rolls around the Roanoke campus on occasion. His stories can sometimes be found in a variety of art and design publications.

CALENDAR

August 5 Prospectus Announcement

October 24 Deadline for Artcall entry form, entry fee, and images.

November 18 Accepted artists notified by Artcall

January 13 -16 Accepted work delivered to Olin Gallery 10-6 pm

January 31 Juror Lecture/Awards Announcements at 6:30 pm
Reception from 6-8 pm in Olin Hall Galleries

March 16 Show closes at 4:00 pm

March 17 - 20 Pick-up work 1:00- 6:00

ELIGIBILITY

Open to all artists within a 200 mile radius of Roanoke College, Salem, VA. Work must be original and executed within the past three years.

MEDIA

All fine arts media including Crafts, Drawing, Film and Video, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture are accepted.

SALES

Olin Gallery is a non-profit organization and no commission will apply for works sold from the exhibition. The Gallery will forward information regarding inquiry of purchase to the artist.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

All 2-D works must be prepared for installation with proper hanging mechanisms. Sculpture must be portable and weigh less than 150 lbs. Olin Hall Galleries reserves the right to reject any entry that does not follow these guidelines.

REQUIRED

All Accepted work must be hand delivered January 13-16 to Olin Hall Galleries between 10 am - 6pm

All Accepted work must be picked up March 17-20 between 1pm - 6pm

SALE PRICE FIELD IS FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES ONLY

Olin Hall Galleries is a non-profit organization and no commission will apply for works sold from this exhibition. Visitors can contact a gallery representative if they have an interest in purchasing a piece of artwork from the 2025 Biennial Exhibition. We will forward interested persons contact information to the artist.