Archive for the ‘Cullowhee NC Visual Arts’ Category

Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum in Cullowhee, NC, Receives Highest National Recognition

October 8, 2021

The Western Carolina University (WCU) Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center, in Cullowhee, NC, has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. American Alliance of Museums Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.

Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 50 years, the Alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

Western Carolina University Chancellor, Dr. Kelli R. Brown, is honored the university has received this accreditation. “The hallmark of any great university is great cultural programs. We celebrate the WCU Fine Art Museum’s accreditation as a testament to WCU’s commitment to excellence in the arts.” Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only just over 1,080 of those museums are currently accredited, and out of that, only 16% are university museums. In addition, the WCU Fine Art Museum is one of only 28 museums accredited in North Carolina, and one of 3 accredited museums in the UNC system.

Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. The Alliance’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.

Executive Director, Denise Drury Homewood began this process with a self-study in 2011 and has lead the 10 year effort. “The accreditation process has galvanized our ethics, honed our standards, and brought us closer to our audiences. This recognition is a result of the dedication and persistence of our incredible team of Museum professionals, along with the support from the WCU campus and regional community who believe in the power of the arts.” The WCU Fine Art Museum has been awarded a 10-year accreditation, the highest level of accreditation possible, holding the museum to the same standards as national landmarks like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

“Accredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” said Laura L. Lott, Alliance President and CEO. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.” Find a link to the full release from the American Alliance of Museums and more about this award by visit (arts.wcu.edu/accreditation).

Promoting and facilitating meaningful engagement with contemporary works of art and artists, the WCU Fine Art Museum, features four galleries, a growing permanent collection, and rotating exhibitions highlighting regional, national, and international artists. The WCU Fine Art Museum is part of Bardo Arts Center and is located on the WCU main campus at 199 Centennial Drive, Cullowhee, NC 28723. General hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 10am-4pm and Thursday until 7pm. Learn more about upcoming exhibitions and museum events at (arts.wcu.edu/museum) or by calling 828/227.ARTS.

The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 30,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance is the only organization representing the entire scope of the broad museum community. For more information, visit (www.aam-us.org).

Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, Offers Virtual Exhibitions

April 14, 2020

Although our spaces are dark, the arts will never be closed. The Bardo Arts Center, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, is excited to announce a new webpage dedicated to virtual opportunities, (arts.wcu.edu/virtual). This page houses information regarding all the various online experiences and events being hosted by the WCU Bardo Arts Center and the Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts. Highlights include a series of Thursday lunchtime webinar presentations, which will be streamed on Facebook and Youtube, as well as through the (arts.wcu.edu/virtual) website. Details below.

April 16 at noon – “Claire Van Vliet: Stone and Sky”.
The event features exhibiting artist, Claire Van Vliet, and WCU Fine Art Museum Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, Carolyn Grosch. An interesting fact to note, the Museum holds the largest collection of vitreographs in the world, a printmaking medium that uses a glass plate to produce a printed image.


“Claire Van Vliet: Stone and Sky”, Installation View, WCU Fine Art Museum.

April 23 at noon – “Curious Terrain: WNC From the Air
Hear” from exhibiting aerial photographer and pilot, Alex S. McLean, and James T. Costa, Executive Director of the Highlands Biological Station and WCU Professor of Evolutionary Biology. “Curious Terrain” features MacLean’s striking images of the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina and capture the unique qualities of the regions built environment while raising broader questions about humanity’s impact on the land.


“Curious Terrain: WNC From the Air”, Installation View, WCU Fine Art Museum.

April 30 at noon – “Time and Again: Glass Works by Kit Paulson and SaraBeth Post”. Enjoy a talk from exhibiting artist, SaraBeth Post, and WCU Fine Art Museum Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, Carolyn Grosch. Funded in part by the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, this exhibition brought together two Penland-based artists—Kit Paulson and SaraBeth Post—whose works in glass explore ideas about time, history, memory, and the antique.


“Time and Again, Glass Works by Kit Paulson and SaraBeth Post”, Installation View, WCU Fine Art Museum.

Discover more at (arts.wcu.edu/virtual), such as gallery video tours, more streaming performance opportunities, and links to the Bardo Arts Center social media channels for daily content.

Please note that until further notice, the WCU Bardo Arts Center building is closed but will continue to provide access to the arts through these online experiences and opportunities.

For further information call 828/227-3591 or visit (https://www.wcu.edu/bardo-arts-center/fine-art-museum/).

“51st Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition” Takes Place at Western Carolina University’s Fine Art Museum in Cullowhee, NC – Through Mar. 22, 2019

March 5, 2019

Western Carolina University’s Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition is one of the longest-running Catamount art traditions. For emerging artists, this exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity to share their artwork with a larger public and to enhance their skills in presenting artwork in a professional gallery setting. Their work is reviewed by an outside art professional who has the challenge of making selections from the many talented students who submit an application.


Work by Starkim Noble

The WCU Fine Art Museumin Cullowhee, NC, is pleased to showcase twenty-nine works in this year’s exhibition, on display from through Mar. 22, 2019. Created by undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines, the works on view encompass a range of mediums, including photography, sculpture, ceramics, digital animation, graphic design, book arts, painting, drawing, and printmaking.


Work by Zoe Koval

Exhibiting students include: Abigail Mosher, Alison Kabrich, Annabela Cockrell, Brandi Swisher, Casey Sweet, Christen Ray, Dustin Newton, Elijah Troutman, Elizabeth Stone, Elliott Suess, Grace Woodard, Hallie Sholar, Heather Warriner, Joel Basnett, Katherine Coyne, Katy Milke, Matthew Harris, Lindsey Turner, Luke Webb, Mitch Foust, Sarah Kunkleman, Starkim Noble, Taylor Short, Thaddeus Prevette, Victoria Alexander, Tyler Martino, Zachary Alexander, and Zoe Koval.


Work by Taylor Short

This year, the exhibition is juried by Lee Walton, Associate Professor of Art at UNC Greensboro. Professor Walton holds a Master of Fine Arts from the California College of Arts. He directs both the Graduate Program and the Interdisciplinary Arts and Social Practice program at UNC Greensboro. He has been commissioned by museums, institutions and cities, both nationally and internationally, to exhibit, lecture, and lead participatory public events.

The reception and awards ceremony for the 51st Annual Undergraduate Exhibition will take place on Mar. 21, 2019, from 5-7pm.

The WCU Fine Art Museum is always free and open to the public with free parking on site, located at 199 Centennial Drive, Cullowhee, NC. Regular museum hours are Tue.-Fri., from 10am-4pm and Thurs. until 7pm.

For information, call 828/227-ARTS or visit (arts.wcu.edu/51st).