Faculty News
Jamilee Lacy, PC Galleries Director, will leave PC Galleries to become the Executive Director of the Frye Museum in Seattle, WA. Kate McNamara will serve as Interim Director to support a smooth transition.
Dr. Joan Branham, Professor of Art History, will serve as Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences beginning June 1st, 2022. Dr. Branham has been an integral member of the PC faculty – and community – since she was hired as an assistant professor of art history in 1995. A full professor since 2009, Dr. Branham has taught courses that include “Sacred Space in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,” “Introduction to Jewish Art and Architecture,” “Art History Survey,” and “The Gothic Cathedral Encoded.” Dr. Branham has been associate dean of the School of Arts and Sciences since 2014.
Judd Schiffman, Professor of Ceramics, recently unveiled a new ceramic installation, produced with Athena Witscher, at The Steel Yard in Providence. The mural is dedicated to the animals of the Steel Yard and “the magic instilled in all of the creative energy flowing through the welding, ceramics, blacksmithing, and jewelry studios.”
The work of Jamilee Lacy, director and chief curator of PC Galleries, is giving PC a name in both our community and the art world. The current PC Magazine explains how her artistic vision for the PC Galleries is connecting our curriculum to the galleries exciting contemporary conversation.
Dr. Bing Huang, Professor of Art History in Asian Studies, published “Easy on Our Eyes, Easy on Our Brains: VR and the Future of Art History” in Media and Visuality, The Commercial Press, Shanghai 2019.
Dr. Joan Branham, Professor of Art History and Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, recently spoke at the Interfaith Symposium honoring Rabbi Wayne Franklin, and was a reviewer on the Panel: “The Cross and the Menorah,” a Joint Session of Early Jewish Christian Relations and Art and Religions of Antiquity.
Dr. Deborah Johnson, Professor of Art History in Modern Art, will soon be publishing the NEW, REVISED edition of Women Making Art since 1960 – with 5 new chapters and a new introduction.
Stephen Lacy, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art, had a solo exhibition in fall 2019 titled: Amplified Heat, Pilot Projects, in Philadelphia, PA.
Art History Professor Paul Crenshaw lectured at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The lectures were titled: ‘Rembrandt’s Greatest Prints’, October 9th, and ‘Rembrandt and the Art Market’, October 16th, 2019.
Art Professor Heather McPherson exhibited her work in The Little Baby Show in New York City in 2018 and at The Dot Conference, The Yard in Brooklyn, NY in 2019.
Art Professor Judd Schiffman exhibited his work in the following exhibits: Call of the Wild, Green Space Gallery, TF Green Airport, Providence, RI (2019); Lies, District Clay Gallery, Washington, DC 92019); and LA Artcore Ceramics Group Show, Los Angeles, CA (2018).
Can You Dream It? (Yes I Can.), curated by Scott Alario, PC’s Studio Art Technician, was on view at the Kristen Lorello Gallery from July 10-August 14 at 195 Chrystie St. NY, NY 10002. Exploring the collision of cuteness, transcendence, and ambivalence, this show is a collaboration of many artists, including Providence College’s own Heather McPherson, Professor and Chair of the Art and Art History Department, Judd Shiffman, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art, Jenna Lavallee, Consulting Exhibitions Coordinator and Alumni Class of 2016 and Scott Alario, PC’s Studio Art Technician. Read a recent review of this show by Louise Benson in the Elephant titled “Can You Dream it? Cuteness and Creativity”
Professor Bing Huang lectured at Harvard University as part of a conference titled Chinese Optics: Artful Looking on Friday May 17, 2019. Professor Huang’ lecture was titled “The Armillary in the Boudoir: What Was It Doing There?”
Professor Judd Schiffman exhibited his newest work, Blind Origin, curated by Pinar Durgun at the Brown’s Joukowsky Institute for Archeology and the Ancient World from April 17 – May 31, 2019.
The exhibit explores the use of art to reinterpret archaeological objects. Artist and Professor Judd Schiffman responded to objects selected from the Joukowsky Institute’s collection by creating a new series of ceramic sculptures. Interweaving these transmutations with his personal accumulation of imagery, this work speaks to the meaning, stories and power we ascribe to objects, ancient and contemporary. In his talk, Schiffman will discuss some of his previous work which investigates the relationship between objects, identity, and culture and will speak to the energetic and aesthetic ways we interact with the world around us.
Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences and Professor of Art and Art History, Joan Branham, discussed the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral.
Art History Professor Paul Crenshaw is featured in a BBC4 documentary “From riches to ruins, Looking for Rembrandt”. This tells the story of a difficult but passionate man, whose life reads more like the biography of a rock n’ roll star than famed artist of the 1600s. The documentary has three parts and airs: April 9, 16 and 23, and there will be links for online viewing afterwards. BBC4 is the cultural programming network for BBC. For additional information on these films.
Top professor Eric Sung uses photography to teach students new perspectives
Sung’s ability to teach students how to see, and to document what they see through photography, was recognized when he was selected to receive the 2017-18 Joseph R. Accinno Faculty Teaching Award, Providence College’s highest teaching honor. Administered by the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Teaching Award Selection Committee, it is awarded each year to the faculty member who best exhibits excellence in teaching, passion and enthusiasm for learning, and genuine concern for students’ academic and personal growth. Read more on Eric’s Sung’s accomplishments.
Photography Professor Eric Sung discusses the Business and Innovation Minor. Learn all about this exciting new program!
This fall students in the Asian Art through VR Games course, taught by Dr. Bing Huang of the Providence College Art and Art History Department, explore Asian heritage sites using virtual reality tools — no passport required! ST:Asian Art Through VR Games – 2506 – ARH 279 – 001
Please see a recent article Celebrate Black History All the Time acknowledging Dr. Strasser‘s discoveries in Crete in relation to African history.
Boston Globe’s review of the Providence College Galleries‘ current show, “Dirtypower” by Caitlin Cherry, curated by Jamilee Lacy, PC-G’s Director and Chief Curator recently was published. Cherry gave an artist talk on February 27, 2019 at 6 pm in the Smith Center for the Arts. “Dirtypower” will run through March 2, 2019 in the Reilly Gallery.
Scott Alario, Studio Art Technician co-scored and composed music for the film, “Hale County: This Morning this Evening” which was nominated for an Academy Award in the documentary film category 2019.
The film was shown on PBS’s “Independent Lens” on February 11th and is still available for viewing through their streaming services. The director RaMell Ross is a friend and RISD colleague of Scott’s who teaches full time at Brown University.
Ceramics Professor Judd Schiffman and Scott Alario, Studio Art Technician collaboratively designed a record cover for the band, Deer Tick. The cover features Judd’s whimsically detailed clay work. Also noteworthy is PC alum Chris Ryan ’07 who just happens to be a member of the band whose music was just released as a 12” vinyl!
