March 2011

Coker College in Hartsville, SC, Features Works by Bryan Ritchie

Coker College in Hartsville, SC, is presenting the exhibit, Bryan Ritchie: Works on Paper, on view in the Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery through Mar. 23, 2012.

A contemporary artist specializing in drawing and printmaking, Ritchie is an associate professor of art in the School of Art and Design at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Windsor, Ontario, and a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Colorado.

“Bryan Ritchie’s drawings and prints are both whimsical and ominous,” said Assistant Professor of Art and Gallery Director Larry Merriman. “I find myself smiling and enjoying the visually rich qualities of his images, but also sense there may be a challenge around the corner. His art is a mysterious and engaging place where viewers can enjoy the journey as much as the destination.”

“I consider my work to be a collection of opinions derived from social interactions, media influences, daily rituals and memories,” explained Ritchie.

“The world I present can be cynical and misguided, but if I am successful, the work is also mischievous and ironic. While it often comes from a serious place, it is my desire for the viewer to find humor in the unlikely juxtaposition of forms and empathize with the characters as they cope with circumstances presented to them,” he added.

The Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery is located in the Gladys C. Fort Art Building on the Coker College campus.

Coker College upholds and defends the intellectual and artistic freedom of its faculty and students as they study and create art through which they explore the full spectrum of human experience. The college considers such pursuits central to the spirit of inquiry and thoughtful discussion, which are at the heart of a liberal arts education.

For further information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the gallery at 843/383-8156 or visit (http://www.wix.com/cokerartgallery/ccgb).

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