Wilson at the Wilson
Longtime professor's artwork to be displayed at the gallery that bears her name
The artwork of Dr. Joyce Norene Wilson will be featured in the gallery that bears her name in a show beginning Thursday, September 1 and running through Friday, September 30. The Dr. Joyce Norene Wilson Art Gallery is located in the Hitchcock Humanities Center on the main Bellevue University campus. A reception will be held on Wednesday, September 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served and all are invited to attend.
Wilson, recently retired from Bellevue University, is excited to have her work on display in the gallery. "I do feel so honored that the University chose to put my name on the gallery," she said. "Basically, Bellevue University has been my career, since I was at Bellevue most of my working life. I was fortunate to be with BU, with its emphasis on teaching, and at a time when the art department enjoyed an important position in the institution."
Wilson worked at Bellevue University for 42 years holding a variety of titles including Professor of Art and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, a Master's degree from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In addition to teaching at Bellevue University, she also taught at UNO, Doane College and the College of St. Mary as well as at the Joslyn Art Museum.
The show will feature Wilson's painting in acrylic and watercolors. Patrons may want to pay particular attention to Airlie Beach with Ineffective Crocodile Fence, one of Wilson's favorites.
"The subject came from a trip to Australia," she explained. "The beach provided a jumping-off point for developing an interesting composition and with unusual shapes and colors. I also enjoy unusual titles. This one recognizes the often feeble fences that are supposed to keep crocodiles out!"
The pieces in the show all date from this past year.
"Over the years my paintings have evolved from abstract expressionism to now reflect a greater interest in capturing places I have experienced," Wilson said. "But, my aim is not so much the representation of a particular place as an expression of the mood and my personal responses, still utilizing abstract design as a structural basis for the presentation of the subject. Many of the themes are drawn from my travels."
Wilson has traveled extensively in her career visiting numerous locales including England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Egypt, Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Australia and Singapore.
"Most of my images can be identified as landscapes or cityscapes," she said. "These are based primarily on places I've visited around the world, although some are clearly the local area. Southeast Asia was a particularly rich source of ideas."
She's received inspiration from her most recent trip as well.
"I have just returned from Scandinavia, Estonia, and Russia with lots of sketches and notes, so I will be developing these ideas," she said.
