Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--New York artist Sandy Skoglund will discuss her career and create examples of her internationally recognized works while on a two-day visit to Mississippi State in late March.
"Reality Under Siege" will be the topic of her 7 p.m. public presentation on the 22nd in the Simrall Hall auditorium. It will follow a faculty "Open Studios" program to begin at 5 p.m. in nearby Etheredge Hall and precede a reception and book signing of her 1998 biography, "Sandy Skoglund, Reality Under Siege," in the Simrall lobby.
Earlier that day, the Rutgers University faculty member will lead a group of some 50 majors in the College of Architecture, Art and Design in the creation of an "installation," the room-sized art form for which she has received considerable acclaim. After completing what typically is a 30-by-40-foot project poking fun at some suburban reality, she captures the design in a large-format Cibachrome photograph.
"She will take a room and place unexpected patterns, textures, colors, and objects in it to create a surreal domestic setting that both confounds and engages," said art department head Kay DeMarsche in explaining Skoglund's work with the student team. "In our case, she will be working with a former campus apartment on University Drive."
In addition to a hands-on learning experience and the special opportunity to work along side an art master, participating students will receive a Skoglund print, DeMarsche added.
According to the artist's Web site, her works have ranged in value from $8,500-$75,000 each.
On the 23rd, Skoglund will spend the day with members of the art faculty and other students in the major.
The art department and college are joining with the Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Sciences and Shackouls Honors College in sponsoring her campus appearance.
Skoglund was born in Quincy, Mass., in 1946. In addition to receiving a bachelor's degree from Smith College and a master's from the University of Iowa, she has studied at the Sorbonne and Ecole Du Louve in Paris. Formerly an art professor at the University of Hartford (Conn.), she has taught photography/installation/multimedia at Rutgers since 1976.
Her distinctive creations are found at museums from New York to Paris to New Orleans and Denver. Among her best-known are "Radioactive Cats," "Fox Games" and "Revenge of the Goldfish."
"We are both honored and very delighted to have Ms. Skoglund come and share her considerable talents and creativity with Mississippi State students and faculty members," DeMarsche said. "Whether an art patron or not, we encourage everyone interested in innovative concepts to hear her Thursday night presentation in Simrall Hall."
For additional information on the Skoglund program, contact DeMarsche at 662-325-2970.
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NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: To make arrangements for observing the installation project as it is being created, contact Ms. DeMarsche as soon as possible at the above number or at kdemarsche@caad.msstate.edu. Media participation may be limited.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.