School of Art Presents M.F.A Thesis Exhibition with Jody Travis Thompson: 'Liable to Change'

Jody Travis Thompson

"View from the Inside"

The School of Art at the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition with Jody Travis Thompson: 'Liable to Change'.

The large-scale paintings featured in the exhibition are on display at the Fine Arts Center Gallery now through March 14. 

Liable to Change is a series described by the artist as existing somewhere between abstraction and realism. The artists inspiration comes from memories such as monkey bars and his family's garage. Reflecting specific memories are used to lay the foundation for future research into aspects of identity formed through time, change, and both social and personal memory.

Thompson hopes this exhibition will provide space for audiences to critically think and explore formal elements of form, light, space and color. These elements perform distinctly in each individual paintings while forming connections with the larger visual conversations throughout the body of the work.

While the academic focus in this body of work is to begin visually categorizing the aesthetics and ideas of perception and identity, Thompson's research is arts based.  

"My research begins with me walking into my studio and getting my hands dirty," said Thompson. "After that, I look at what is happening on the surface of the canvas and begin to unpack the work."   

Thompson applied for the School of Art Master of Fine Arts program 20 years after he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. During the program interview process Thompson was asked why he was interested in returning to school.

"I don't know, what I don't know," Thompson said. "I value my current way of painting, but I recognize I have become too comfortable and my work is becoming stagnant, and sometimes the only way to change is to get uncomfortable."

Thompson is thankful to the faculty and colleagues who have helped him expand his views of what contemporary painting is and can be, opening his mind to explore and push past his own perceptions of painting limits.

During his time in the program, Thompson was an instructor and teaching assistant in the School of Art foundations area. He noted this experience as extremely beneficial as it reminded him of the basics, an artists' own foundation. 

"I was reminded, at times, the best solution to a problem in the studio is going back to the basics," said Thompson.

All are invited to see Liable to Change now through March 14 at the Fine Arts Center Gallery. The opening reception will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 8, at the Fine Ars Center Gallery. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Gallery hours:

• Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.