Fifth Wheel

Fifth Wheel
Group Exhibition at Linfield Gallery, Linfield College, McMinville, OR
Artists: Sarah Nance, Julia Oldham, Alanna Risse, Jane Schiffhauer
Curator: Josephine Zarkovich

From The Press Release

New work by four women artists, along with themes from “Moby Dick” will be showcased in “The Fifth Wheel,” an upcoming art exhibit at the Linfield Gallery in the James F. Miller Fine Arts Center at Linfield College.

The exhibit runs Feb. 10 through March 19 and features artists Sarah Nance, Julia Oldham, Alanna Risse and Jane Schiffhauer. An opening reception will be held Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m., and an artist talk will be Saturday, March 12, at 5 p.m. Both events are in Linfield Gallery.

The exhibit features new work from the four artists in conversation with Melville’s classic American novel “Moby Dick.” “The Fifth Wheel,” which takes its title from a passage in the novel describing the surprisingly inessential nature of the human soul, brings together artists of different mediums and styles to the Linfield Gallery. The combination of site-specific installation, sculpture and hand-drawn animation, creates new perspectives of the famously masculine literary work.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Sarah Nance is an artist working in installation, drawing and sculpture. Natural light occupies a central role in her work, as it is intimately related to considerations of perception, beauty and ephemerality. She completed her MFA at the University of Oregon and is currently visiting assistant professor/area head in fiber at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Julia Oldham was raised by a physicist, an avid gardener and a pack of dogs in rural Maryland, and her childhood was filled with adventures in the woods, bee stings, drawings and science experiments. Oldham studied art history at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and received her MFA from the University of Chicago. She spends her time in New York and Oregon.

Alanna Risse is a multi-disciplinary artist living in Portland. She makes immersive installations from everyday materials like cardboard, PVC pipe, canvas drop-cloth and fabric remnants. She has an MFA in Visual Studies from the Pacific Northwest College of the Arts.

Jane Schiffhauer is a multi-disciplinary artist who pulls from an array of media to express her concepts. Common themes in her work include relationships, personal narration and the human condition. She has an MFA from the Pacific Northwest College of the Arts and has had solo exhibitions at Ditch Projects, the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Milepost 5.

LINFIELD GALLERY

Exhibitions of regional, national and international stature are on view throughout the academic year in the 1,500 square foot space at Linfield College. Patrons can expect challenging shows that exemplify diverse approaches to the practice of contemporary visual art.

All exhibits are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The gallery is located in the James F. Miller Fine Arts Center on the Linfield College campus. To reach the gallery from 99W, turn east on Keck Drive at the McMinnville Market Center in south McMinnville. Turn right at the first street onto Library Court. The art gallery is located in the second building on the left, Building B. Parking is available on the street and in the lot west of Nicholson Library. For a campus map, visit http://www.linfield.edu/campus-map.html. Miller Fine Arts Center is number 56. Ample street parking is free.

For more information, call 503-883-2804 or visit Linfield Gallery online at http://www.linfield.edu/art/gallery-now.html