The OU School of Art will present a faculty exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery of the Fred Jones Art Center from Jan. 18 through Jan. 28.

The exhibition will feature paintings by associate professor George Hughes, figurative sculpture by artist-in-residence Paul Moore, figurative drawing and sculpture by sculpture instructor Sohail Shehada, and photography by associate professor Todd Stewart.

The exhibition is not limited to art majors, and all students are encouraged to attend, Hughes said.

"This is an opportunity for students to experience firsthand the works of professional artists and art educators," Hughes said. "The exhibition will reveal to students the most recent creative research faculty are involved in. Art students will learn about individual presentation of the various media by the faculty in this exhibition."

Stewart said he hopes that by attending the art exhibit, students will take more of an interest in art and the role it plays on campus and in their own lives.

"Just by looking around campus, you can see how important art is," Stewart said. "We have a thriving art community on campus, and students should take some time to see what we have to offer. At its best, art reveals to us what is most important in life. It has that ability."

Jonathan Hils, assistant professor of sculpture, said the faculty art exhibit began last year and there is a new faculty art exhibition at the start of every semester. Each semester, the School of Art attempts to rotate the types of works it displays in order to ensure artistic diversity, Hils said.

"We have a diverse population of faculty and their interests," Hils said. "We want students to see the diversity of their creative impulses. Our primary focus is to attract the main student population and anyone else who may be interested."

The exhibition may also help entering freshman art majors decide which artistic outlets they want to pursue, Hils said.

"New freshman art students who are trying to sort of figure out where their interests lie can see what our faculty offers," Hils said.
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