The De Pree Art Center and Gallery at Hope College is featuring the exhibition “Conversations: Process, Materials, and Accretions” by Dan Callis, who was the Borgeson Artist-in-Residence at the college this summer, from Monday, Aug. 28, through Thursday, Sept. 21.
Callis will deliver an artist’s talk on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. in Cook Auditorium of the De Pree Art Center. A closing reception will immediately follow in the gallery.
The public is invited to the exhibition, artist’s talk and closing reception. Admission to each is free.
The exhibition features a series of mixed media prints and paintings that are the product of a 12-week summer residency created in 2016 through the generosity of Hope alumni Clarke and Nancy Borgeson. During this year’s residency, Callis engaged in a conversational studio practice informed by rambling research readings and podcasts including: selected works by Jeffery Hamburger on early medieval apocalyptic illuminated manuscripts; Edward Andrews writing on Shaker gift drawings; the writings of Rev. Gregory Boyle and Rev. Barbara Holmes; and the poetry of Alexis Pauline Gumbs (“Undrowned”) and Christopher Davidson.
Callis was assisted by Hope senior Stephanie Somjak of Milford, who is majoring in studio art and minoring in art history, and their dialogs quickly turned toward collaboration. The exhibition includes work by Somjak, as well as poetry by Christopher Davidson.
Callis is an artist and educator living in Southern California. Working within a variety of media and visual traditions, he explores the poetics found at the intersection of materials and process. The work is derived out of evolving practices, evidenced by labored surfaces of accumulation. Each work archives conversations between method and material, structure and concept.
His teaching experience includes a decade working in special needs communities, Cypress Community College, Mt. San Antonio College, Azusa Pacific University and University of Southern California. He currently teaches at Biola University, where he is a professor of drawing, painting and transdisciplinary studies.
Callis received his Bachelor of Arts degree in drawing and painting from California State University, Fullerton. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University which culminated with Callis receiving the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Graphic Arts Council’s, Young Talent Award.
The gallery is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those without a Hope College ID (necessary to gain access to the building) should call 616-395-7500 to visit.
The De Pree Art Center and Gallery is located at 275 Columbia Ave., between 10th and 13th streets.