University of the Cumberlands Art Gallery Open  

With busy school and work schedules, people often need to unwind. For a relaxing activity that’s good for the soul – and even better if you enjoy art – all are welcome to visit the new exhibition at University of the Cumberlands’ art gallery. The gallery is located on the left side of the second floor of the Leucker Building on campus and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 

The exhibition includes etchings, woodblock prints, lithographs, and drawings, with some of the art dating back to the 17th century. 

Russell Weedman, department chair and professor in the Department of Art at the University of Cumberlands, sees the gallery as a huge benefit for students.

He said, “It has always been a core concern for me as a professor to get my students in front of great works of art so they can see them first hand. We’ll talk about some things we’ve been working on in class so they can see how professional artists have applied them over the years.”

The gallery can help students better understand the significance of what they are learning in class and allow them to see how to use those same techniques in their own work. 

The gallery isn’t only beneficial to art majors. Professor Weedman hopes that students who go to the gallery will leave with “a little more appreciation and a little more understanding” of art as well. In his opinion, viewing art can give students a respect for artists and their crafts that they didn’t have before. He has found that looking at art is a sort of stress reliever and can even be inspirational, since it forces viewers to slow down, leave behind the busyness of the rest of their lives for a moment, and simply contemplate the beauty God has shown in the world, as the artists have portrayed.

The exhibit will be shown in the Luecker Building’s art gallery until the end of the semester. In the spring, an exhibition of student work will be displayed. All are welcome to visit the gallery and view all exhibitions throughout the year.