"Drawing on Alabama," a biennial juried art exhibition that began in 2007, is on display in the Biggin Hall art gallery through Feb. 4.
"A juried exhibition is a competitive exhibition, which is a great opportunity for professional development because it gives you the opportunity to have your work peer-reviewed," said Barb Bondy, exhibition and lectures coordinator for the art department. "This is a contemporary drawing exhibition, and there are no limitations. It can be digital or it can take on other forms, such as three-dimensional."
Bondy said Carter Foster, curator of drawing at the Whitney Museum of American Art, will be the guest juror.
Jay Lamar, director of the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities, said the center works closely with the art department.
"Our office is the outreach office for the College of Liberal Arts to find ways in which we can connect the College and the University to the general public," Lamar said. "With the art department, we've done all kinds of projects."
The Center for the Arts and Humanities is involved with this year's exhibition.
"We are co-sponsor of this year's 'Drawing on Alabama' exhibition," Lamar said. "We have always supported it."
The exhibit is made possible in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
"We have funded this exhibition before," said Georgine Clarke, visual arts manager for the council. "It's important for us to support visions, opportunities for artists and showcases to the public of the arts of Alabama, so they can know the wonderful artists that live in the state."
The exhibition is an effort to create a public dialogue about art in Alabama.
"It's such a privilege to be able to showcase Alabama artists," Lamar said. "We are full of wonderfully creative, nationally and internationally known people, and an exhibition like 'Drawing on Alabama' gives us a chance to tell ourselves and the rest of the world how rich the culture is here."
Anne-Katrin Gramberg, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said she supports the exhibit.
"This is a big project--it has high visibility and participation from all over the state," Gramberg said. "We would like to expand it to two more states next year. We've been discussing Mississippi and Georgia."
Both Gramberg and Bondy agreed the exhibit is an excellent teaching tool.
"It's really fantastic," Gramberg said. "The work that is displayed here is outstanding. We have outstanding students, we have great faculty, and it's all about building community."
Admission to the exhibit is free, and the gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by appointment.
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