Thursday, January 27, 2011
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – (Jan. 26, 2011)Tanya Murphy Dodd, a multi-media fine artist with southern roots, will exhibit “Embracing Light” at the Mosely Gallery in celebration of Black History Month.
“We are very excited to have an artist of such great standing at the Mosely Gallery and are honored to exhibit her work for all to see,” said Anke Van Wagenberg, director of the gallery, located on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore campus.
A reception for Dodd will be held Thursday, Feb. 3, from 4-6 p.m. at the gallery, where she also will sign books featuring her work. The “Embracing Light” exhibit will remain on display until Friday, March 18.
Dodd’s collection of photographs and mixed media often focuses on themes of African-American history, southern culture and feminism, Van Wagenberg said.
Throughout her career, Dodd’s work has been used to create “socially conscious portraiture and environmental documentations” inspired by photographers Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange and Gordon Parks of the Farm Security Administration, a federal agency that chronicled the plight of the poor during the Great Depression.
The Philadelphia native’s vast photography techniques utilize traditional film, vintage processes, contemporary digital technologies and hand-made box cameras.
In the past six years, her extensive training as a painter became a distinct asset for her imagery while combining media.
“She forged a very unique style of photo-based, collage-mixed media paintings,” Van Wagenberg said.
In 2008, Dodd opened her first major solo exhibit at the African American Museum of Philadelphia. The exhibit then toured the United States for an additional two years and inspired a book and a DVD documentary. That same year, she co-founded “Salon Joose,” an artist alliance that encourages professional self-empowerment.
A year ago, Dodd won a residency at the Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia, which placed her among such esteemed artists as Benny Andrews, David Driskell and Howardena Pindell.
Dodd has worked as an art curator, gallery director, advisor and mentor for many artists. Her studio-gallery is located in Philadelphia’s Center City, Northern Liberties district. She is represented by galleries in Philadelphia, Detroit and Boston.
The Mosely Gallery, located in the Arts and Technology Center on the UMES campus, is free and open to the public: Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, call 410-651-7770, email gallery@umes.edu or visit www.umes.edu/arts.
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Candice Latshaw, public relations assistant, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-6669, gcstephens@umes.edu.
Bill Robinson, public relations director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-621-2355, wrobinson3@umes.edu.
