WASHINGTON, PA (Feb. 5, 2016) — The Olin Fine Art Gallery at Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) will feature artist Amy Schissel’s work from Feb. 5 to 28.
Her exhibit opens with a reception and artist’s talk Feb. 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Olin Fine Art Gallery.
Primarily making large scale works, Schissel explores the mapping of new social cartographies that examine the contemporary state of painting/drawing in the age of digital image making.
“This exhibit was initially created to address current anxieties about the role of painting in the Internet and Information Age,” said Schissel. “It has been my long-term project to navigate through a constant technological presence in a data-driven, media-saturated culture—through artwork that hybridizes painted and digital languages.”
She combines the analogue continuous nature of the painted brushstroke with algorithmic digital processes to create works that take on the look of digitized Abstract Expressionism. Her work aims to invest in the re-contextualization of painting/drawing and its function within the context of a more digitally saturated world.
An exhibit such as this one in Olin offer students a unique experience to view artwork that is visually compelling.
“Though exposure to exhibitions, direct contact with working artists, and listening to artist speak about their work, students are given the opportunity to better understand how artists offer a unique means of conveying ideas.” Said Douglas McGlumphy, the director of the Olin Art Gallery.
Schissel, an Assistant Professor of Painting at West Virginia University, received both her Master’s of Fine Arts and Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of Ottawa, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
**All Olin Fine Art Gallery events and exhibitions are free and open to the public. The Gallery is open seven days a week from noon to 7 p.m. during exhibitions, and is closed during college breaks. The Gallery is in Olin Fine Arts Center at 285 East Wheeling Street, Washington, Pa. 15301.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
