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Phillips Exeter Academy - Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy to Host Still No More

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Lamont Gallery
www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery
gallery@exeter.edu
603-777-3461
 
 
 
Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy to Host Still No More
On view January 24-April 15, 2023
 
Exeter, NH (12/16/22) — Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy will host Still No More. The exhibition presents a stimulating, renewed energy to the tradition of still life. Brent, Duennebier, Howard, Kostianovsky, Pitsch, and Surdam present a synthesis of tradition and contemporary culture as they examine how still life continues to be relevant in artistic practice while propelling the style forward. The title of the exhibition references this sense of pushing beyond a static staged perspective in favor of work that reads as more of an evolutionary, convergent state between art history and contemporary culture. Through the mediums of ceramics, photography, sculpture, installation, and painting, the exhibition expands the potential of what a still life can be while preserving the essence of what makes the genre iconic and memorable. Although decorative and seemingly beautiful, the works on view weave elements of dystopia or tragedy into the narrative as they engage contemporary issues such as climate change, genetically modified foods, and mass consumption.  
  
The history and evolution of the still life span art history as a constant portal through which viewers glimpse into culturally relevant objects and reflect on their symbolism. While the exhibiting artists follow the still life tradition of presenting assumed markers of class, hierarchies of taste, and the reminder of impermanence, they do so with humor and undertones of dystopic tragedy. Each playfully resists classic sumptuous icons in favor of an array of high and low-brow objects that are indicators of our time. While traditional still lifes would celebrate ripe fruit and a silver chalice, Still No More elevates things like cast cinderblocks and cardboard, boxed cake mix, and discarded toys. What do these objects say of the contemporary moment? What predictions do they make for the future?  
 
Exhibiting Artists: Sarah Meyers Brent (MA), Nicole Duennebier (MA), Lindsey Lou Howard (NY), Tamara Kostianovsky (NY), Christina Pitsch (NH), and Arden Surdam (CA)
 
 
Events:
Opening Reception
January 26, 5-7pm
 
Visit the Lamont Gallery website to learn more about the exhibit and find out about additional events and educational programming: www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery.
 
 
Visiting the Lamont Gallery:
The Lamont Gallery and all programs are free and open to the public by appointment. Online reservations can be made on the “Visit the Lamont Gallery” page of our website. www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery


Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday 10am-4pm
Location: Unless noted, all events located at the Lamont Gallery, Frederick R. Mayer Art Center, 11 Tan Lane, Exeter, NH 03833
 
Notes: The Gallery welcomes school and community groups. The gallery is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers by contacting the office in advance at gallery@exeter.edu or 603-777-3461.
 
Lamont Gallery programs are supported in part by the Michael C. Rockefeller ’56 Visiting Artists Fund.
 
About the Lamont Gallery:
The Lamont Gallery, located in the Frederick R. Mayer Art Center, is a dynamic exhibitions and teaching space celebrating the arts by showcasing work of regional, national, and international artists in thematic exhibitions. Established in 1953, the Lamont Gallery was a gift to Phillips Exeter Academy by Lamont family alumni including Thomas W. Lamont, Corliss Lamont, Ned Lamont and others. Their generosity provides visitors of all ages the opportunity to experience and learn about the arts in a welcoming setting that reflects the Academy’s commitment to the intersection of goodness and knowledge. Informed by the Harkness teaching philosophy, the Lamont Gallery’s programs emphasize active learning, inquiry, and dialogue. The gallery offers year-round exhibitions and programs that are free and open to the public. For more information, call 603-777-3461 or visit the website at www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery.
 
Lamont Gallery programs are supported in part by the Michael C. Rockefeller ’56 Visiting Artists Fund. 
 
 
About Phillips Exeter Academy:
 
Phillips Exeter Academy (www.exeter.edu) is a coeducational, independent school, located in Exeter, New Hampshire. Founded in 1781 by John Phillips, Exeter has a tradition of academic excellence, a distinguished faculty, and a long history of educating young people to find their place in the world. It originated the system of instruction known as Harkness teaching in 1931. In the spirit of the school’s charter to foster goodness and knowledge, a Phillips Exeter Academy education is free to any admitted student whose family income is $75,000 or less and the diverse student body comes from a variety of geographic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds.

Phillips Exeter Academy - Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy to Host Still No More

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