Values, Vices and Virtues the Theme of Tunxis Exhibit

A thought provoking sculpture and photography exhibit by Fine Arts Department lecturers Melissa Blair and Paula Robins is on display in the Wallace Barnes and Barbara Hackman Franklin Art Gallery at until April 14. The exhibit features 50 small sculptural installations and photographs.

Blair is a mixed-media installation artist and a past recipient of the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism’s Artist Fellowship Grant Program. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in visual art from Vermont College of Union Institute & University.

Robins is a photographer and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Albertus Magnus College.

In her artist’s statement Robins explains “The idea for this group of images was investigated when I became interested in the question 'What are personal values and where do they come from?' I’ve realized that we cannot all be in agreement with each other’s cultural values, because we’ve all experienced something different.  Through experience, and character exposure, a value is born. These values are the core of why we all react and express ourselves the way we do.”

Robin’s exhibit consists of a series of abstracted figurative symbols of the seven virtues and vices.

“I’ve tried to convey inner light through basic lighting techniques while photographing and then back-lighting the printed digital images with a warm-toned incandescent,” Blair said.

“I say keep expressing yourselves, but respect yourselves, and most importantly others while in the process,” she said.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, call 860.255.3661 or e-mail William Kluba at wkluba@txcc.commnet.edu.

The gallery was named in honor of Wallace Barnes, chairman of the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission, and retired chairman and CEO of the Barnes Group, Inc.  and his wife Barbara Hackman Franklin, a former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and president and CEO of Barbara Franklin Enterprises, headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The event is one of a series at Tunxis Community College celebrating 40 years of education.

Future events include:

• April 6   3rd annual “Jazz Night,” 6:30 -10 p.m.
• April 13   Writers Festival, 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• April 14 – 21  Connecticut Faces of Survival exhibit
• April 22  Production of Sergei Burbank’s “War Crimes,” 7:30 p.m.
• April 29   Film Festival, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• May 1   Earthstock, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• May 2  Tunxis Art Alumni, 40th Anniversary Opening Reception, 4- 7 p.m.

For a complete listing of 40th anniversary events at Tunxis, visit tunxis.commnet.edu/40th/Tunxis-40th-Anniversary-Event-Calendar.pdf