Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--New works by a veteran Mississippi State faculty member and artist are being featured during May at a Memphis gallery.
"Dreams and Variations," nine large watercolor and acrylic paintings by Brent Funderburk, is a new exhibit at the L Ross Gallery at 5040 Sanderlin Ave. in the Tennessee river city. Opening Friday [May 2], it continues through the 31st.
Funderburk said the images were created from three primary influences: backyard items at his East Lee Boulevard residence, dreams and "variations" on works by such influential painters and architects as Clifford Still and Andreas Palladio, among others.
"They pay homage to my 'unmet' mentors, as well as unplanned dreams; in other words, visions that have come as gifts to me, without struggle," he said. "These are some of the largest pieces I've attempted."
A North Carolina native, Funderburk is an East Carolina University graduate who has taught at MSU since 1982. He also is a former art department head.
His exhibit formally opens with a 6-8 p.m. Friday reception.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit www.lrossgallery.com.
ART NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: Mr. Funderburk may be reached for additional comments at 662-325-2144 or tbf5@msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.