Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art presents ‘Unexpected Places’

Opening July 11 and running through Aug. 22, the Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art will present “Unexpected Places,” an exhibition curated by local artist and Morris Museum of Art’s Curator of Education Matt Porter.

“Unexpected Places” will feature the work of four regional artists: Y. Malik Jalal, Ryan Parks, Anna Spence and Emily Wang. The gallery’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Described as “disarming and familiar,” the collected works of these four artists have the “ability to bring light to the diverse aspects of their communities,” according to the Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art’s press release.

Jalal is an Atlanta-based artist whose work is a study of cultural tapestry of the African diaspora and the notion of “blackness” itself.

Parks creates music under the moniker Fit of Body and also runs the Atlanta-based cassette label, Harsh Riddims. Parks’ distinctive cut-paper collages decorate many of the label’s releases.

Spence is an Atlanta-based video artist whose work has been seen at film festivals all over the world, including Filmfest Dresden, Animatter Media Art Festival, Delete TV and the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

Wang is a photographer from Atlanta and graduate of the University of Georgia. Much of Wang’s recent work is dedicated to commercial partnerships with brands, entertainers and products.

On Aug. 22, there will be a lecture presented by Porter starting at 5 p.m. in University Hall, immediately followed by a closing reception at the Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art.

Also, the following day, at 11 a.m. Aug. 23, current students and recent Augusta University alumni interested in arts-related careers are invited to join Porter at the Morris Museum of Art on 10th Street for the third annual “Curatorial Conversations” program hosted by the Mary S. Byrd Gallery.

Porter’s presentation will focus on professional preparation for creative careers. This is a free program with limited registration.

Prospective participants should email gallery director Shannon Morris as soon as possible.

Mary S. Byrd Lecture:

• Presented by Matt Porter at 5 p.m. Aug. 22
• University Hall, Room 170

 Closing Reception:

• Following lecture on Aug. 22
• Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art inside Washington Hall at 2500 Walton Way

Curatorial Conversations:

• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 23
• Led by Matt Porter at the Morris Museum of Art, located at 1 10th St.
• Light lunch provided courtesy of the Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art
• Prospective participants should email Shannon Morris as soon as possible.