‘Day and Night‘

As staff members in the Department of Art they have various roles assisting and supporting emerging student artists as well as the artists and faculty members who teach them. After hours, however, they are artists in their own right, and a weeklong exhibition is currently showcasing their work.

“Day and Night: Staff Biannual” featuring 20 pieces by 11 artists, continues through Friday, March 8, in the campus’s Glassbox Gallery (Arts building, Room 1326). A reception honoring the artists will take place Thursday, March 7, from 4-6 p.m.

The exhibition, curated by art department lecturer Emily Baker and teaching assistant Madeleine Ignon, ranges from paintings — oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel and, in some cases, a combination — to photography, sculpture and jewelry.

“I curated the first show [in 2017] along with Sunny Samuel,” said Baker. “He was a second-year grad student at the time and I was a College of Creative Studies teaching fellow. I realized that members of the staff didn’t know much about the artistic endeavors of their coworkers, so I thought a show would be a great way to learn more about each other.”

Recalled Susan Lucke, collections manager and registrar at the Art Design & Architecture Museum whose work is included in the current exhibition, “Two years ago, the staff at the UCSB art museum, art department and history of art and architecture department were approached to be included in a ‘staff only’ exhibition. Since we all participated in art-making processes in our off time, it became a really interesting exhibition.

“Who knew there was so much talent behind the scenes?” she quipped.

The Glassbox Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.