The Hampden Gallery, a program of the Fine Arts Center located in the Southwest Residential Area invites the university community to a pair of exhibitions this fall – a solo exhibition by visiting Scottish artist, Moray Hillary, in the Main Gallery and a Critique Group exhibition in the Incubator Project Space.

Both exhibits launch Friday, Sept. 15, with a reception scheduled from 5-7 p.m. The exhibits will run through Dec. 1.

The Hampden Gallery has a reputation as a launching pad for emerging artists working in all disciplines. Its active programming schedule runs throughout the academic year and features solo, group and thesis exhibitions which are enhanced through opening receptions, artist talks, and workshops.

The Hampden Gallery, located at 131 Southwest Circle, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1-5 p.m. and Wednesday from 1-7 p.m. The gallery follows the University´s holiday schedule and is closed on snow days.

Free parking is available in Lot 33 from 5 p.m. – 7 a.m. Monday-Friday, and on weekends (except during UMass football home games). For more parking information, visit www.fineartscenter.com/hampden, call 413-545-3394 or email hampdengallery@umass.edu.

The most current schedule for the Fine Arts Center is available at https://fac.umass.edu/Online/article/hampdengallery.
 

Main Gallery: “Selective Memory” by Moray Hillary

Sept. 15 – Dec. 1; Artist Talk: Sept. 15, 6:00-6:30 p.m.

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The 225 miniature paintings in Moray Hillary’s “Selective Memory” exhibition form a gestalt that activates the gallery space creating a poetic dialogue. The exhibition transforms the gallery into an immersive environment and travelog installation of miniature paintings upon vintage car wing mirrors that are fitted to the walls at various heights and angles creating a constellation of intricate imagery. Each painting depicts detailed observations, or artificial reflections. Unpainted sections of the mirrors allow the viewer to see themselves reflected and integrated into the painting.

Some of the paintings depict fragments of cityscapes, quiet pathways or undefined spaces. Others include everyday objects such as a typewriter, a sink, and a shoe. The intimate scale of the paintings encourages the viewer to move in closely.

About the Artist
Moray Hillary is a Scottish multimedia artist whose work engages with a variety of current social and political issues. His work has been widely exhibited internationally and in the United States. He has recently shown at Galerie Protege in New York City and with Buro Adalbert, Berlin, Germany.
 

Incubator Project Space: “WAYS of SEEING”

New works by Hampden Gallery’s Critique Group
Sept. 15 - Dec. 1

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“WAYS of SEEING” is a group exhibition of new works by members of the Hampden Gallery’s Critique Group. The title of the exhibition is a nod to author John Bergers’ notable influential text on art criticism.

Berger believed every image embodies a way of seeing. Likewise, the Hampden Gallery Critique Group embraces this idea bringing a range of experiences and perspectives to analyze each other's work.

The group is comprised of Western Massachusetts artists who work in photography, painting, sculpture and digital media.

Group members include internationally recognized artists as well as self-taught artists. The variety of members’ experiences, processes and materials used results in a rich and vital dynamic.

About the Curator
Anne Seuthe holds an MFA from the University of Massachusetts. Her public and collaborative projects include: X Marks the Spot, DUMBO Arts Festival, Brooklyn; Intrude 366 at the Zendai MoMa in Shanghai, China; Physical Geography/Psychological Landscape at the Goethe Institute in Dresden, Germany and at the Distillery Gallery in Boston; The 2008 London Biennale with TransCulturalExchange, The Coaster Project at the Fuller Museum and SuperNatural at Art In The Orchard, Easthampton, Mass.