This morning, artist Becca Barnet took up residence in Studio 2 at the Gibbes. She will be here through Saturday, and trust me, she is an artist you don’t want to miss. Becca’s artistic practice is a fascinating combination of sculpture, painting, drawing, taxidermy, and more. She has a great interest in natural history and is particularly inspired by two artists currently on view in the museum’s special exhibitions: Walton Ford and Mark Catesby.
During her time at the Gibbes, Becca plans to draw inspiration from the Gibbes collection and special exhibitions on the third floor of the museum. At any given time, you may find her painting on a taxidermy fish, sculpting small animal figures in clay, or creating digital work on her iPad. And if you don’t see her in Studio 2, take a gander through the galleries. You might find her sketching one of Mark Catesby’s snakes or embroidering one of his elegant birds. There is no telling where her inspiration may lead.
For me, it is really exciting to see a young, creative contemporary artist inspired by the work of an eighteenth-century watercolor painter. This is what the museum’s Visiting Artist Program is all about—fresh inspiration, creative exchange, and demystifying the artistic process. We want to help museum visitors understand how an artist works and why they create the work they do. Becca’s time at the Gibbes is the perfect opportunity to see the magic of an artist at work. Yes, there is a lot of hard work and training that goes in to being an artist, but there is also a touch of magic.
So if you are in search of inspiration and a place to escape the heat, come by the Gibbes and visit with Becca. She is an absolute delight and welcomes visitors into her studio. See you there!
—Pam Wall, curator of exhibitions, Gibbes Museum of Art
Becca Barnet will be in the studio at the Gibbes July 25 – 29. Open studio hours include Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11am – 3pm; Wednesday: 3pm – 8pm; Saturday: 11am – 2pm. Access to the artist studio is free.
Published July 25, 2017