By Theodore Geigle
The Scene staff
Norleen Nosri has a thing for teapots.
The Forest Park art professor has created dozens of sculptures depicting teapots over the years.
“The teapot to me represents a sort of endless giving, and I like to represent that exchange in my art,” said Nosri, who also is chair of visual and performing arts. “That action of receiving and giving.”
Nosri is one of about 15 faculty members showing their work in the Annual Faculty Exhibit in the Gallery of Contemporary Art on campus.
It’s the first exhibit in the gallery since the COVID-19 pandemic closed campus in March 2020.
Nosri’s sculpture titled “Duo Solo” features porcelain teapots on earthenware shelving that hangs on the wall.
The exhibit also includes paintings, drawings, photos, assemblages, multimedia pieces, digital art, embroidery and even artistic music.
It will run through Nov. 4. Admission is free.
“The exhibit is a chance for students to see us as artists,” Nosri said. “They see us very rubric and as a teacher.”
Art professor Mario Carlos specializes in paintings and other figurative art.
He’s displaying an assemblage titled “Trap” in the exhibit. It’s made of galvanized wire and shelled peanuts with a black mask that represents a mouse.
Carlos got the idea while looking at a bag of peanuts at his house.
“When you think of peanuts, you think rodents,” he said.
Carlos’s favorite piece in the exhibit is titled “Variant, Phase 1.” It’s a collection of “archival pigment prints” by photography professor Jamie Kreher. She edited a variety of photos to make them look like negatives.
Kreher began studying and creating art around 1995. She earned her master’s degree 10 years later.
“One of the coolest things about being an artist is that you get to make your own worlds,” she said. “And so, if you’re dissatisfied with the reality, the real world so to speak …
“That idea of escapism is a key thing I was doing with (the collection).”
Dan Wine is another art professor with work in the exhibit. This is his first semester teaching at Forest Park.
Wine mainly works with graphite, charcoal and oil paint.
He’s showing an oil painting titled “Waiting” in the exhibit. It’s a self-portrait that shows him leaning against a windowsill and gazing out the window.
“I am really proud of the design and simplicity of it,” Wine said. “… I can appreciate the brush strokes and the background.”
Wine began creating art as soon as he was able to hold a pencil as a child and got more serious in high school. He’s been a professional artist for about 25 years.
The Gallery of Contemporary Art is on the first floor of the library building on campus. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.
“I would encourage any students to come and take a look at (the exhibit),” Wine said. “It’s a strong representation of what their faculty does, and I would hope they get inspiration from it.”