CSU, Chico Janet Turner Newsletter #1
Current Exhibition and Jr. Curators
Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Animals – Fun, Fantastic, Fierce
MARCH - APRIL 11
Curator’s Talk: Thursday, March 12, 5:30, Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall (PAC 134), followed by a reception at The Turner.
Animal as subject crops up repeatedly in the Turner Collection. Janet Turner herself was known for her birds of our region, but she was not averse to sketching a house cat or monkeys at the zoo. As an enduring subject, animals are seen for not only their particular attributes, but also what they can tell us about our relationship with nature. Anthropomorphically, our depiction of animals can be colored by the urge to assign human characteristics. Or in reverse, animal actions remind us of our baser instincts. This exhibition stays with a subject, but looks for a variety of interpretations from culturally significant to truly kitsch.
Two junior curators assisted Curator Catherine Sullivan with the current exhibition, and will be on-hand for the talk and reception on March 12. Both sixth graders at Chico Country Day School in Mrs. Bower's class, Grace Mott and Addy Ivey, took part in the “Future Professional” program, filling out an application to be a museum curator, and were “hired” by Sullivan. Sullivan explained that there is an existing “university level Curatorial Intern Program that provides art museum and research experience, so it is very exciting to develop a similar program at the K-12 level!”
Grace is an active artist, taking weekly classes at Chico Art School from Janet Blixt, a student of Janet Turner’s. Addy is a talented musician and enjoys art and literature. Grace said she was drawn to the position of curator, stating, “I love art and wanted a chance to be able to learn about different types of prints.” Addy explained that she was excited to help with the exhibition and “see how a museum works and get to help put together a show.” Both junior curators have been meeting with Sullivan regularly this semester, learning about the prints in the exhibition as well as the process behind selecting, arranging, and displaying a show.
Member Spotlight
Dr. Turner planted the “printmaker seed” in me. Though it has been more than 50 years since I took her class in serigraphy/silkscreen, I think the seed she planted continues to grow.
My major at California State University, Chico was general elementary education, because I was afraid of becoming a “starving artist.” In printmaking class, Dr. Turner had a quiet and reserved demeanor. I don’t remember hearing her laugh, but I do remember that when she smiled, it was sincere and meaningful. She was supportive, and her lessons were always well presented.
One occurrence that I have always wondered about was when one of my expressive silkscreen prints sold for $20. When I asked her who bought it, she was evasive. I was struggling to pay for school and I think she may have bought it to help me out.
I taught for 37 years in the Livermore Valley School District. During that time, I married and raised two daughters but only took one printmaking workshop, an influential woodcut class taught by Antonio Frasconi.
Upon my retirement in 2000, I moved to the Santa Cruz area and became a student once again, taking classes and workshops at Cabrillo College, Monterey Peninsula College, and KALA, Berkeley, as well as abroad in Florence, Italy and Mexico.
Currently, I create photopolymer etchings, woodcut/relief, monoprint and monotype prints. My inspirations are from “found images” and compositions I find that many people might pass by. Recently, I was honored by being invited into the California Society of Printmakers.
Free art classes for children at The Turner!
ForKids@TheTurner is an after-school program that provides art instruction to kids in kindergarten through high school. The small classes of 10–14 students are held at The Turner and are designed by Chico State student interns under the direction of Dr. Teresa Cotner, Associate Professor in Art Education, and former chair of the Department of Art and Art History. One of the many reasons Janet Turner collected art throughout her lifetime was so that she could share original works of art with her students instead of relying only on slides or other types of reproductions. In the spirit of Janet Turner’s love for teaching and learning experiences that include a focus on high quality and original art, ForKids@TheTurner lessons all begin in the museum gallery with observations and discussion of the work in the exhibition followed by hands-on art making. Dr. Cotner started the program in January 2013, providing free, active learning experiences for kids and interns that make high quality, original works of art available for viewing, teaching, and learning in the North State.
CREATIVITY Happens Here - The New Arts and Humanities Building
A spectacular new building for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at California State University, Chico is now under construction at the corner of Second and Normal streets. This will be a space that transforms the experience of students, faculty, community members, and visitors to the North State, who come to campus to learn, to teach, to create and view art, to write, and to hear music.
The Janet Turner Print Museum will be moving to a permanent home in the new arts and humanities building along with the University Art Gallery and the MFA Art Gallery. All three galleries will share a beautiful lobby and reception area. In the new building, The Turner will have greatly expanded curatorial space and an excellent facility for properly storing the collection.
We are now raising support for the new building, and especially for The Turner. Will you join us in this unique and exciting project – and be a part of the new center for the arts in the North State? Please click here if you would like to make a gift (box) or contact Daria Booth, Advancement Director at dbooth3@csuchico.edu or 530-898-4054.
CREATIVITY Happens Here - The New Arts and Humanities Building
A spectacular new building for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at California State University, Chico is now under construction at the corner of Second and Normal streets. This will be a space that transforms the experience of students, faculty, community members, and visitors to the North State, who come to campus to learn, to teach, to create and view art, to write, and to hear music. The Janet Turner Print Museum will be moving to a permanent home in the new arts and humanities building along with the University Art Gallery and the MFA Art Gallery. All three galleries will share a beautiful lobby and reception area. In the new building, The Turner will have greatly expanded curatorial space and an excellent facility for properly storing the collection. We are now raising support for the new building, and especially for The Turner. Will you join us in this unique and exciting project – and be a part of the new center for the arts in the North State? Contact Daria Booth, Advancement Director at dbooth3@csuchico.edu or 530-898-4054.