Art professors create exhibit about sabbaticals
Professors Christopher Terry and Craig Law, from the Utah State University art department, have put together an art exhibit after returning from sabbatical.
Terry graduated from the University of Rhode Island; then went on to receive his master of art from the University of Wisconsin. He has been at USU since 1988, and this was his first sabbatical, which is when a teacher takes a year off to do research in his field.
Law has taught at USU for 25 years, and this was his third sabbatical leave. Law actually stepped down from department head to take the time off.
“Sabbatical years have been what has been keeping me teaching,” Law said. “It is a very important time for me.”
Terry was a guest professor at a university in Germany. And Law mostly stayed home, but did travel to England, Scotland, Poland, and Texas to study rock art. The art exhibit is a report from their sabbaticals.
The exhibit opened Jan. 6 and will stay open until Jan. 31.
Both teachers agree art is a good way to get a full education at school.
“If you find art boring, then go to a football game,” Terry said. “I feel that students should learn about certain aspects in the world, but I won’t force it on anybody.”
Law said students are missing out on their education if they don’t attend an art exhibit, concert or play while at USU.
“We’re supposed to become educated human beings,” Law said. “And a way to do that is to appreciate the arts.”
April Wilkins, a senior majoring in photography, has known Law for four years.
She said Law’s work is interesting because he takes traditional photos and scans them, then prints them out digitally. The art exhibit helps her see the possibilities in art, she said.
She also agrees with Law and Terry that students should take part in the arts if they want to have a full education.
“Art is an expression in communications,” Wilkins said. “Everybody can view [Law’s] work and appreciate it.”
Both Law and Terry are very excited about the exhibit and are glad they were able to share their works with the students here.
“For both of us it is a way to show our appreciation of our sabbatical leave to the university and Cache Valley,” Terry said.
If students would like to view the exhibit, they can contact the art department at 797-3421.
–bbnichols@cc.usu.edu