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Springs Eternal: Art, Water, Change 2019

Yellow text reading "Springs Eternal" on top of a crashing wave.
Springs Eternal: Art, Water, Change
February 6 – March 31, 2019

Opening Day Panel Discussion: Wednesday, February 6, 4:00-5:00pm with reception to follow

Wide view of the exhibit's installations. Two black pedestal and a map in the exhibit.

The TCNJ Art Gallery is pleased to present Springs Eternal: Art, Water, Change. The title of the exhibition hints at the missing word that is at the center of much of the work in the gallery: hope. Little of what we read or watch these days about water — whether it is about rivers, ground water, municipal drinking supplies, storm water runoff, flooding — inspires much hope. It can be difficult to rouse optimism about any of the many water-related issues we read about: the acceleration of climate change and rising sea levels, damaging storm surges and flooding, legislative roll-backs of environmental regulations that protected water and air; increasing evidence of damaged freshwater and ocean ecosystems.

Yet, the artists in this exhibition all make work about water, and, more specifically, they create work that that seeks to change how we think about, use, preserve, and enjoy water. As an artist, how do you engage an audience with issues that can be complex and politically divisive? How can  you productively connect with people when tackling a controversial issue with no easy answers? This requires optimism — and a strategy. Each of the artists (and artists’ collective) in this exhibition has a strategy to connect, to maintain optimism, and to create change. Their hope — or at least their cautious optimism tempered by realistic expectations and belief in creative solutions —  for our planet, its water, and its living creatures. springs eternal.

Artists in the exhibition:

3d printed half circles pierced with spikes.
Image courtesy Marguerita Hagan

    Abstract black and white art with spearing patterns projected onto a wall.
Black and white child leaning over a teal body of water.  An pen and ink art piece called Springs Eternal: Water Ways by Bri Barton & Meg LemieurStudents trying out different quality of water from a tray.

Artists in the exhibition included: Marguerita Hagan, Alexa Horochowski, Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative, Water Ways/Bri Barton and Meg Lemieur, and Water Bar/Colin Kloecker and Shanai Matteson

 

Calendar of Related Events

  Students in front of music stands holding various instruments.  A group of people sitting at a wooden table talking.

The Springs Eternal Exhibition featured an intensive schedule of public events, including panel discussions, pop-up musical performances, artist’s talks, curricular projects, K-12 professional development, class visits, and special water-tasting and discussions, anchored by the Water Bar and hosted by college and community experts on water.  Read on to learn more about the special events and programming for this exhibition.

 

Additional Exhibition Resources

People examining a large wall art piece in the exhibit.

Environmental Education Curriculum Cards

In collaboration with Dr. Lauren Madden, professor of Elementary Science Education, the TCNJ Art Gallery and the School of Education have devised Curriculum Cards for teachers who wish to view the exhibition with their students.

Art Education Curriculum Cards
As part of Dr. Carolina Blatt-Gross’s Art Education class, students have designed one-to-two page teaching materials that describe how to bring Springs Eternal into the classroom.

Art Education & Graphic Design Springs Eternal Game Night Collaboration
Dr. Carolina Blatt-Gross’ Art Education class and Graphic Design students from Dr. Belinda Haikes’ Graphic Design class collaborated to share original, educational games with Gallery visitors.

Sound Springs Eternal – Soundscapes Provided by Students
As a culminating project in an IMM ‘mini-course’ with TCNJ faculty, students created sound compositions to pair with the artworks in the exhibition. These compositions are available both from the provided link as well as through QR codes around the gallery.

Art Education & Graphic Design Game Night – Springs Eternal Collaboration
As part of a partnership between the TCNJ Art Education department and the Springs Eternal Exhibition, the Art Education students in this class provided content for the Graphic Design students to create physical games that enhance the learning outcomes of issue-based lesson plans.

 

Contact

TCNJ Art Gallery
Art and Interactive Multimedia Building
The College of New Jersey
2000 Pennington Rd.
Ewing, NJ 08628

609.771.2633 Tel
609.637.5193 Fax
tcag@tcnj.edu

Hours

Tuesday: 12-7 p.m.
Wenesday: 12-7 p.m.
Thursday: 12-7 p.m.
Saturday: 1-3 p.m.

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