The Art Museum at the University of Memphis presents Curious Environs | Arts & Culture

The Art Museum at the University of Memphis presents Curious Environs a group exhibition curated by Paul Behnke that brings together artists from Brooklyn, NY, Philadelphia, PA and Memphis, TN.  In the 16th century some of the decadent cabinetry of the Flemish Renaissance included hidden drawers, small compartments and doors for displaying works of art and interest. These cabinets were in the height of fashion into the 17th century and this concept lends itself readily to the Caseworks exhibition space and the work displayed in this exhibition.

Curious Environs connects with this bygone experience by offering a look at five exciting and contemporary artists with strong and varied exhibition backgrounds.

Where: CASEWORKS at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis  The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152

When:  Opening Reception, Friday, December 3rd 2010   5:30- 7:30 PM  Exhibition dates: December 3- January 8th.

Participating artists in the show are:

Megan Bisbee-Durlam

Brooklyn, NY

Megan Bisbee-Durlam, born 1983, grew up in Vermont and in 2005 received her BFA from Alfred University.  Represented by Lohin Geduld Gallery (NYC) she has also shown at Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center (Buffalo), Tampa Museum of Art, Firehouse Gallery (Burlington, VT) and Flinn Gallery (Greenwich, CT).  Megan's work was published in edition #56 of New American Paintings. Reviews of her work have appeared in Buffalo News and The Gay City News. Megan was visiting lecturer at the University of South Florida and Alfred University. She attended Vermont Studio Center on full fellowship in 2009 and recently completed Vermont’s Seven Below Arts Initiative residency at The Barn in 2010 courtesy of full fellowship. Megan lives and works in Brooklyn.http://www.meganbisbeedurlam.com/

Joe Brittain

Brooklyn, NY

Joe Brittain received a BA in Art History/Studio Art from SUNY University at Buffalo, NY in 2003.  Brittain has exhibited his work in ICFF with the Lindsey Adelman Studio Booth (NY), Psychic Neighbor at Ramiken Crucible (New York, NY), and Quizotic, a curated exhibition held in Brooklyn, NY, among others.

He is the recipient of numerous awards and residencies, including the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT in 2009 and, the SVA Summer Residency Program in New York City in 2002.  Brittain currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

http://www.joebrittain.com/

Juan Hinojosa

New York, NY

Juan Hinojosa is a mixed-media installation artist who currently lives and works in New York. Constructed from stolen and found objects, his complex, collage-drawing installations challenge the obsessive consumerism and social stratification of American culture. Hinojosa received his BFA from Parsons School of Design and was awarded residencies at both the Vermont Studio Center and Aljira Center for Contemporary Art (Emerge 9). His exhibitions include Cuchifritos Project Place (New York), Five Myles Gallery (New York), Aljira Center for Contemporary Art (Newark) and Arteria (Shanghai). Most recently he was accepted into NYFA's “Artist Boot Camp” where he was profiled and photographed for the cover of The New York Times.

http://www.juanhinojosa.com/

 Dale McNeil

Memphis, TN

Dale McNeil was born in Statesville, North Carolina.

He received a BFA in painting from the Memphis College of Art in 2000 and has since sought opportunities to broaden his education and studio practice with travel and independent study opportunities, including a trip to Japan in 2006. In 2008, McNeil took time off from exhibiting to extensively investigate the art of woodblock printing. He has shown widely in Memphis in such exhibitions as Max 2001:All About Paint, at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis in 2001 and Do-It a local survey of talent hosted by the Brooks Museum in 2000.  He also curated and participated in the seminal exhibition Don’t Let our Youth Go To Waste held at South Second Arts Space in 2000.

McNeil is the recipient of numerous awards, including the AICAD New York Studio Program Award, the Edward Faiers Painting Award, and the Lytel McKee Memorial Scholarship Award.  He currently lives and works in Memphis.

 Vincent Romaniello

Philadelphia, PA

Vincent Romaniello was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied art and design at the Academy of Art, San Francisco, CA. After living and working there for 14 years Vincent moved to New York City where he concentrated his studies on painting at the School of Visual Arts and the New York Academy. He has exhibited nationally and internationally including: the Biennale Internazionale dell’Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA; Roger Smith Gallery, New York, NY; Butters Gallery Ltd., Portland OR; Bentley Projects, Phoenix, AZ and the University of Wisconsin-Stout, WI and Salisbury University MD.

Vincent has been the recipient of honors from The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the State Museum of Harrisburg, Chashama and others. His work is in private and public collections including Morgan Lewis, Kleinbard Bell & Brecker LLP, Coventry Corporation and the Park Hyatt Philadelphia.

http://www.vincentromaniello.com/

 Exhibition Curated By:

Paul Behnke

Queens, NY

Paul Behnke was born in Memphis, TN and received his BFA from the Memphis College of Art. Behnke has exhibited nationally and internationally and his work can be found in private collections in Chicago, IL, Perth, Australia, and Dublin Ireland. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Bowld European Traveling Fellowship, and the Arts Build Community Grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. In addition, he recently completed a month long residency at the Vermont Studio Center courtesy of a full fellowship. The artist lives and works in Queens, NY.

http://paulbehnke.net/

For more information on the exhibit or the participating artists and their work please contact:  Paul Behnke by phone at 609-954-4131 or by email at paulbehnke@me.com.