From Oct. 22 through Dec. 19, the George Sherman Union’s second floor Sherman Gallery will be home to a number of artworks from four Boston University alumni in a free exhibit called ‘Pushing Paint.’
Two of the artists, Sedrick Huckaby and Ron Tomlinson, earned their undergraduate degrees from the former School for the Arts, while the other artists, Amy Jones Oliveira and Zachariah Hawkins, earned their graduate degrees at BU after attending school in Texas.
Each artist submitted various works to the gallery, showcasing their individual styles and compositions for the exhibit, which was sponsored by the School of Visual Arts. More than 50 people attended the opening reception on Thursday to see the artists work and talk with them.
Tomlinson, who graduated in 1967, supported and mentored the three other, younger artists, encouraging them to utilize their talents. Both the teacher and his students have earned various acclaims and presented their pieces at numerous galleries, with all four collectively presenting their works at the Fort Worth Public Library.
All four artists work on their craft full-time, often selling their art. The cost of pieces displayed at the gallery range from $150 up to $18,000 for Tomlinson’s ‘Man with Shovel.’
Hawkins’ art is impressionistic and based on collages, photographs and real life scenes, including portraits of old master painters alongside motorcycles.
Taking an impressionistic approach to elements of his own life and the people in it, some of Huckaby’s works use relief techniques, presenting portraits in a three dimensional form.
Jones Oliveira bases much of her art on her baby daughter, but her collection also features artwork of pigs.
Tomlinson presents jumbled images and subjects whose color and composition seem to interest him, according to Tomlinson’s daughter, Odette. One of his portraits actually shows the three stooges with a mule.
All the painters utilize oil on canvas to present a plethora of color combinations, exploring both light and dark.
Of those attending the opening reception, a vast number were BU students and most were in CFA.
While most students said they were pleased with the gallery, a few concerns also came up.
CFA senior Caitlin Flynn said she enjoyed Huckaby’s works and the portraits of Jones Oliveira’s baby, but she thought the GSU was not well-suited for a gallery.
‘I think we need a bigger gallery, because we can’t get back from the painting,’ she said.
CFA senior Phaan Howng said he found the paintings exceptional, but agreed the size of the gallery and placement within the GSU were rather distracting.
