Georgian Court Hosts Senior B.F.A. Exhibit of Emily Donovan

Inspired by her travels to Japan and Portugal, Georgian Court University art student and Howell, N.J., resident Emily Donovan will share a range of mixed media works during her B.F.A. Senior Exhibit, October 14 through November 7 in GCU’s M. Christina Geis Art Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.

“My work has evolved in size from small to large, and the newest pieces have a wonderful, free expressive style,” says Emily, who currently has other work on exhibit at Peters Valley Art Gallery in Layton, N.J.

Many of the pieces on display in the M. Christina Geis Art Gallery are inspired by her travels, including time spent in Ireland. But her experience of living on a naval base and, earlier this year, studying art in Portugal, also heavily influenced the exhibit. In both countries, fishing is integral to the economy and everyday life, she explains.

“In those countries, people live off what they can gather from the ocean. I don’t want to be cliché and say that I love the beach, but what I really love is simple life,” Emily says. “That’s where I got my motivation to paint the squid and octopus. These two animals are key in the diets of so many people. I got to watch fishermen pulling them in from two different countries.”

Her work has drawn praise from Leo Morrisey, a GCU associate professor of art. Mr. Morrison, chair of GCU’s Department of Art and Music, led students on a Spring 2014 education abroad trip to Lisbon, Portugal. Emily, who was one of five students selected to travel, studied art-making and architecture in Belem, Sintra, and Cascais during the trip made possible by GCU’s Global Transformation Initiative.

“Emily Donovan’s new body of work shows a level of maturity rarely seen in young artist, and her work exhibits evidence of both Eastern and Western influences,” said Mr. Morrisey. “The energy and emotion in each painting will give the viewer insight into the vision of a young artist with a bright future ahead of her.”

The M. Christina Geis Gallery at GCU is open to the public and showcases curated and invitational professional exhibitions as well as selected student exhibits. There is no fee to visit the gallery, which is located on the second floor of GCU’s Arts and Science Center. The gallery is open Monday-Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For information, call Kathleen Settles at 732.987.2388 or email ksettles@georgian.edu.

Founded in 1908 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Georgian Court University is a comprehensive, coeducational university with a strong liberal arts core and an historic, special concern for women. A forward-thinking university that supports diversity and academic excellence, Georgian Court serves more than 2,300 students of all faiths and backgrounds in both undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located at 900 Lakewood Avenue, Lakewood, N.J., on the picturesque former George Jay Gould estate, a National Historic Landmark. Georgian Court also serves students at New Jersey Coastal Communiversity in Wall and through multiple online certificate and degree programs.