A Selection From the Collection

pine framed screenprint. yellow-orange background with handwritten text, image of a blank piece of torn out notepad paper in the center right

abstract painting with vivid primary red, green, yellow, orange, blues, also black, baby blue, and some white. somewhat resembles the style of Kandinsky

rectangle wood burning, horizontal. two large white molars are depicted meeting in the middle, with a third much smaller on the bottom left, roots running opposite the larger right above it. a hash pattern burnt into the background

print with a black inky background and orange central figure. the head is twisted sideways and appears to be laughing, but can be mistaken from a distance for a hat

print of a large jug containing a humanoid figure, a homunculus, displaying the artistically interpreted internal structures, including a heart-shaped heart, large eyes, hooked nose, and toothy grin. jug is blue-black and creature is very colorful

porcelain cast gasoline container, white with a black glaze "stain" covering the bottom half as if something has been spilled on it

center is a blue vintage chaise lounge surrounded by large looping splotches of color in teal, red, olive green

tan background with white brushstrokes covered with scribbles and rambling text, bottom left has some gold-orange brushmarks and bottom right has text "are you here?" circled

lithograph print of a sad, slouching Black woman in 60's dress and yellow hoisery and a large handbag walking next to a large brown square, her shadow in front of her

abstract mixed media painting in bright pinks, white, blues, black, with applique paper, film reels, blocks, buttons, and scribbles

Lost and Found Art

UM Gallery Presents Exhibition of Leftover, Forgotten Art – The University Center Gallery at the University of Montana will showcase works from its small permanent collection through the end of spring semester. The exhibit opens Monday, April 11, with a reception to be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 21.

The gallery’s collection consists of works from the former Museum of Fine Arts, as well as student work donated or left behind in the gallery over the years. When the Museum of Fine Arts was dissolved and redesignated as the ‘Montana Museum of Art and Culture’ in 2001, most of the work was transferred to the new museum’s collection. Some work, however, remained in the University Center – on display or stored away – and eventually made its way into the storage room of the UC Gallery. This includes a 1965 painting by former UM professor Walter Hook of Rock Creek and a 1922 etching by Sid Chafetz, a prestigious satirical printmaker who taught at Ohio State University during the post-war era.

Over years of exhibiting work by UM students, the UC Gallery also has collected quite a bit of work from former students. Previous gallery directors have accepted donations of artwork or requested to retain work for future shows. Oftentimes, particularly at the end of a semester, students have forgotten to pick up work or left town for break, and the art has made its way into the collection by accident. Most recently, several pieces were overlooked during the COVID-19 shutdown of March 2020. “Selections” includes work from alumni Stella Nall, Evan Hauser, Nathan Cater, John Calsbeek, Eloise Danch, Micki Haldi and Alex Lee.