The Mandeville Gallery and the Wikoff Student Gallery have reopened after closing due to repairs done on the Nott Memorial. Last spring, the Nott building closed while repairs were made to the roof and interior ceiling. The accumulation of water leaking from the roof into the ceiling caused a section of plaster to dislodge and fall from the ceiling. During the Nott’s closure, more than one hundred vertical feet of scaffolding were erected to reach the ceiling and make the necessary repairs. Since the Nott’s re-opening, the LGBTQ+ @Union: Stronger Together exhibit is on display in the Wicoff Student Gallery through November, and Recent Acquisitions is on display in the Mandeville Gallery through June.

LGBTQ+ @Union: Stronger Together presents work in drawing, painting, illustration, photography, and poetry by current Union College students, alumni, and professors. This year’s show is the ninth LGBTQ+ @Union exhibition, a series which began in 2008. The goals of the exhibition are to stimulate conversation, educate the campus community on the topic of LGBTQ+ life at Union, and provide an occasion for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to share their perspectives. The artists are former Visiting Professor Elise Bouhet, Emma Calarco ‘22, Victoria Donatacci ‘23, Crystal Flax ‘22, Albert Gilewicz ‘75, and Professor Randy Wyatt.

Union College Permanent Collection displays paintings, photographs, film, prints, digital media, mixed media, and works on paper, all of which are artworks purchased for inclusion in Union College’s Permanent Collection over the past decade. Recent collection development has focused on acquiring modern and contemporary works of art that highlight contemporary African, African American, Asian, Indigenous Alaskan, and Native American artists, supporting the College’s efforts to create an inclusive visual presence that fosters a spirit of diversity and reflects our campus community and the world today. 

Since acquisition, many of these works have been used by faculty to further their discussions of issues relating to race, class, gender, and identity, in courses ranging from art history and classics to Latin American and Caribbean studies and sociology. Many of the included works have been given a short analysis by Union professors and students who actively work with the Permanent Collection.

Under normal circumstances the Mandeville exhibits two to three shows a year, but they are currently in the process of hiring a new Director & Curator of Art Collections & Exhibitions, a position held by Julie Lohnes from 2013 to 2022. Sarah Mottalini, Curatorial Assistant of Art Collections & Exhibitions, is currently the sole working member of the department. More information about the Mandeville Gallery can be found at muse.union.edu/mandeville.