Martin Art Gallery’s New Director Sees Muhlenberg as a Area Where by “the Arts Are Actually Valued”
In her very first months in the position, Jessica Ambler is prioritizing college student and college involvement in the gallery’s exhibitions and in shows she’s assisting to curate throughout campus.

By:



Meghan Kita 



Thursday, March 16, 2023 09:42 AM
Martin Artwork Gallery Director Jessica Ambler speaks to attendees at the opening reception for “The Girl Who Suggests No,” an exhibition of Françoise Gilot lithographs. Pics by Ash Miller
Martin Artwork Gallery Director Jessica Ambler, who joined the Higher education in December, is thrilled to be back again in greater schooling. Though she’s taught at a number of institutions, including Rocky Mountain Faculty of Artwork + Design and style and Trend Institute of Engineering, she most not long ago labored as a curator for Loupe, Inc., a streaming art platform.
“I missed currently being in a [higher ed] location, in specific performing with pupils and also college, the trade of strategies that occurs and the capacity to use artwork as a teaching instrument alternatively than wanting at it as an asset class,” suggests Ambler, who retains a Ph.D. in artwork background from the University of California, Santa Barbara. “I really like that [Muhlenberg is] a little liberal arts campus where by the arts are actually valued.”
Ambler is making ready to start the gallery’s second exhibition of the semester. Bifurcated Thoughts, a collection of functions by Senior Lecturer of Drawing and Sculpture Kevin Tuttle, will operate from Monday, March 20, as a result of Friday, April 21. This follows an exhibition of Françoise Gilot lithographs from the College’s permanent assortment, which ended March 3.
In spite of her title, Ambler’s purview extends perfectly outside of Martin Art Gallery. She has been in contact with the Business office of Alumni Affairs about exhibiting alumni artwork in Seegers Union, and she’s been collaborating with a few college student gallery assistants as they curate an exhibition of pupil art that will open up in the new Fahy Commons prior to the conclude of the semester. These similar gallery assistants have been instrumental in assisting Ambler get a handle on the College’s collection of extra than 3,000 operates unfold across campus.
“My gallery assistants have been likely from developing to developing, documenting what is in which, what is been moved, what issue our operate is in,” Ambler states. “They’re studying how to catalog art and do artwork exploration as we get a actually great cope with on the assortment. The extra you appear, the a lot more you see. I’d like to do a superior job of highlighting that, by updating the wall labels and going issues close to so men and women consider observe.”
As Ambler carries on to familiarize herself with the College’s collection and the campus and Lehigh Valley artwork communities, she has also began a lecture series that will provide some of her contacts to campus to communicate to college students about their careers. The initial party centered on exhibition design and style potential subjects may consist of art remedy and appraising.
“I definitely recognize the truth that this is a [college] art gallery, and we serve not only the broader community but the college students,” she claims. “I’m going to have just one lecturer per semester … for all the students who are chatting to me, expressing, ‘How did you get a career accomplishing this?’”
Approaching Events at Martin Art Gallery:
Bifurcated Brain
A assortment of will work by Senior Lecturer of Drawing and Sculpture Kevin Tuttle
March 20 – April 21, Martin Art Gallery
Opening Reception: Wednesday, March 22, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Gallery Communicate: Wednesday, March 29, from 5 – 6 p.m.
Quick Expression
A assortment of operates by up to date artist AJ Rojas
April 3 – August 18, Baker Centre for the Arts Galleria
Artist Meet up with & Greet: Monday, April 3, from 1 – 3 p.m.
All occasions are free of charge and open up to the community.
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