The art of animation as practiced by five award-winning, independent animators from across the nation will be showcased in an upcoming exhibit at Grand Valley State University.
Independent Voices: The Art of of Animation opens Monday, February 26, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Art Gallery in the Performing Arts Center, on GVSU's Allendale campus. The show runs at the Art Gallery through March 30, with accompanying artist visits and film screenings at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts.
The artwork and films in the exhibit provide a sampling of the best of independent American animation by highlighting five contemporary animators: Karen Aqua, Joan Gratz, Deanna Morse, Faith Hubley and John Canemaker. All of the artists have worked independently in animation since the 1970s, have had their work screened nationally and internationally, and are considered at the top of their field. Several have won Academy Awards; others have works featured in important museum collections; all continue to produce progressive and provocative animation.
On display at the gallery will be artwork and elements used to create animated film segments, as well as nine short films that visitors can view on a DVD monitor. A special feature will be the world-premiere showing of Dowager's Idyll, a new film by Academy Award-winning animator Joan Gratz.
While cartoon animation is regularly featured on television and in movies, most of what is seen is produced within a studio system for a mass audience. Independent Voices shows the other side of animation, said Deanna Morse, a professor in GVSU's School of Communications and the only local animator in the show.
These artists started making animation when animation wasn't popular. And although their works have achieved commercial success, they continue to make work that is personal, Morse said. These works explore issues and ideas and express a personal vision.
Schedule for Independent Voices: The Art of Animation
On exhibit February 26-March 30 at the GVSU Art Gallery, Performing Arts Center, Allendale campus. Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Call (616) 895-2563 for more information.
Related events, open to the public:
¿ February 26:
¿ February 27: Film screening by Karen Aqua, 10-11:30 a.m., 174 Lake Superior Hall, GVSU, Allendale.
¿ March 15: Faith Hubley will screen her films at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, 41 Sheldon Blvd. SE. 7:30 p.m. screening followed by Q&A period with the artist.
¿ March 17: Screening of Faith Hubley's films, 7 and 9 p.m., UICA.
¿ March 29: Gallery Talk by Deanna Morse, professor in the GVSU School of Communications and one of the animators featured in the show, 5 p.m., GVSU Art Gallery, Performing Arts Center, Allendale.
