The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts' newest exhibit is Form, Line and Color: Selected Works of Abstraction in the permanent collection.
The exhibit contains paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by artists John Cage, Larry Poons, David Lynch and Robert Rauschenberg. All of these artists specialize in modern, abstract art.
"The thesis is really looking at what is the nature of abstraction," said Dennis Harper, exhibition and collections curator of JCSM.
"In the work that I showed, I hope that even one that seems to be totally abstract still has some kind of basis in our reality and our experience," Harper said. "You're going to invest your own interpretations in it, and it actually becomes quite realistic in a way."
A lot of planning and decision making goes into choosing the exhibits that will be shown at the museum.
"Our exhibitions are decided on, typically, at least three years in advance by our Exhibition and Collections Curator, Dennis Harper," said Colleen Bourdeau, marketing and events manager at JCSM.
Exhibits at the museum are usually shown for about 13 weeks at a time, and this particular exhibit will be shown in the Chi Omega-Hargis Gallery until Aug. 13.
"Our main focus is really educational, in this case I am trying to give a little stimulation, thought-provoking ideas," Harper said. "They're nice to look at, but it's a stimulating activity, we hope."
Not only are the exhibits interesting to see, but you can also tour the museum for free, which is always a perk for college students. All of the exhibitions can be toured at any time during the museum's business hours.
"You can just walk through the galleries by yourself," Bourdeau said. "You don't have to dress up; you can wear your running shoes and T-shirt."
If you are someone who would prefer a tour guide through the exhibitions, you can schedule a tour by calling the museum at least two weeks in advance.
If you want to grab some lunch after touring the exhibits, the Museum Cafe and gift shop are open to the public.
The Museum Cafe has three-day set menus and is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Museum membership is $45, but is free for students. Members receive e-mails for various members-only events held by the museum and an invitation to an annual student social event. You can join by visiting the museum's website, www.jcsm.auburn.edu.
"I like it, because it's quiet and relaxed here," said Trish Perlitz, junior in nursing. "The art is very interesting, and it's also free, which is always nice."
Whether you're looking for an escape from the stress of work and school, or something to do on a rainy day, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art is a perfect getaway for anyone.
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