Visual Art

A Maritime Haunting

A Maritime Haunting

November 7 - December 10

A Maritime Haunting is an immersive sound installation that explores loss from Mediterranean border policies through vocal elements and sea sounds. Performers act as a Greek chorus, creating a collective elegy for lives lost during migration. Free and open to the public; no reservations required.

Weaving

Weaving

Wednesday, December 4 at 6:00pm

Students will be provided with a mini loom and selection of yarns. Together we will work through some simple weaving stitches and create something decorative.

Studio visit to Hex Neon and Syd’s Threads

Studio visit to Hex Neon and Syd’s Threads

Tuesday, December 3 at 5:00pm

Demonstrating each step of the neon making process including pattern making, illuminated glass color theory, glass bending, bombarding and install. Weaving demos and showing the weaving and dyeing process in a mini production studio.

Basketry

Basketry

Thursday, November 21 at 6:30pm

Learn to make a twined basket. Using wetted reed, you will learn a simple basket weaving technique that will make a quick and lovely container.

Mandala

Mandala

Wednesday, November 20 at 5:15pm

You will be making ornate designs with intricate patterns that will come to life with vibrant colors.

Wire Sculpture

Wire Sculpture

November 14, 2024

In this workshop you’ll learn the basics of wire sculpture, specifically aiming toward observing and forming plant sculptures.

Wheel Throwing

Wheel Throwing

Friday, November 22 at 5:30pm

Learn how to throw pottery on the wheel! In this introductory class, you will learn the basics of centering and throwing cylinders.

Heelz

Heelz

November 12, 2024

Heel Workshop is an open-level, choreography-based dance class. Heels are optional.

Screen Printing

Screen Printing

November 11, 2024

This two-hour workshop will cover the basics of screen printing: putting images on screens (making a stencil), ink mixing, and how to effectively use a squeegee.

Embroidery

Embroidery

November 8, 2024

Explore the craft of decorating fabric using a needle and thread. Practice creating imagery using colorful thread- students will learn tips and techniques to achieve traditional embroidery styles.

Needle felting

Needle Felting Copy

April 9, 2024

About the Workshop Get some aggression out by stabbing things until they’re cute! In this workshop we will go over the basics of needle felting, introducing the tools, techniques, and ...

Needle Felting

Needle Felting

November 6, 2024

Make a tiny critter, cat toy, or portrait using colored wool and specialized needles.

Wheel Throwing

Wheel Throwing

November 1, 2024

Learn how to throw pottery on the wheel! In this introductory class, you will learn the basics of centering and throwing cylinders.

Potato Printing

Potato Printing

November 4, 2024

Using the humble potato, you will design and carve your own stamps. Each student will be able to make a canvas tote, as well as print on paper to use as cards, wrapping paper, wall art, or whatever you desire.

Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre: Dabke

Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre: Dabke

November 9, 2024

YSDT Dabke classes blend contemporary dance and theater with traditional Dabke tools (rhythm, footwork, unison movement etc.) to invite improvisation and play within the traditional form.

Seeds of Light Lantern Walk

Seeds of Light Lantern Walk

October 29, 2024

Join Gowri Savoor for a magical lantern festival, celebrating seeds and light. Participants can bring lanterns and join the parade. Hot apple cider will be served around a bonfire afterwards.

Lantern Making

Lantern Making

October 28, 2024

Join visual teaching artist, Gowri Savoor, for a fun and unique workshop to learn how to make a magical star-shaped lantern using bamboo, paper, and LED lights.

Screen Printing

Screen Printing

October 24, 2024

This two-hour workshop will cover the basics of screen printing: putting images on screens (making a stencil), ink mixing, and how to effectively use a squeegee.

Gel Printing

Gel Printing

October 16, 2024

We will learn to make botanical gel prints straight from plants! Each print will give you two beautiful images- a silhouette and something resembling a photocopy.

Zine Making

Zine Making

October 9, 2024

Learn a few different simple bookbinding techniques as you create your own Zine, a personal publication that can be about anything you choose.

Papermaking

October 8, 2024

Learn to make paper from recycled materials like junk mail! In this zero-waste workshop, we'll use a blended pulp to create sheets of paper using the dip method with a mold and deckle.

Sculpey

Sculpey

October 7, 2024

If you are new to polymer clay, you came to the right place! Clay allows us to express our imaginations through our hands — and the medium that allows the most possibilities is polymer-baked clay.

Wheel Throwing

Wheel Throwing

October 4, 2024

Learn how to throw pottery on the wheel! In this introductory class, you will learn the basics of centering and throwing cylinders.

Bookbinding

Bookbinding

October 1, 2024

In this 2 hour workshop you will learn the basics of bookbinding to create your own journal to take home.

Light Lane

Light Lane

August 29, 2024 - September 30, 2024

"Light Lane" draws attention to sustainability and celebrating our city with bicycles featuring images created by local artists and music selected to accompany their work.

Drawing 101

Drawing 101

September 26, 2024

Participants will learn the art of looking as the foundation to drawing out observations.

Mindful Mending

Mindful Mending

September 25, 2024

Visible mending is an ornamental approach to repairing an item. Rather than trying to mask the area where the item was damaged, the goal is to highlight these imperfections in a creative, eye-catching way.

Acrylic Painting

Acrylic Painting

September 24, 2024

Come prepared to play with bold brushstrokes, vibrant hues, and creative ideas as you discover the endless possibilities of acrylic art!

Field Notes

Field Notes

September 19, 2024

In this workshop, participants will explore the beauty of the plants, bugs, and surroundings of the Duke Campus Farm, and learn to document their observations in words and sketches.

Wheel Throwing

Wheel Throwing

September 13, 2024

Learn how to throw pottery on the wheel! In this introductory class, you will learn the basics of centering and throwing cylinders.

Embroidery on Photographs

Embroidery on Photographs

September 12, 2024

In this workshop, we’ll practice using embroidery on paper to highlight the natural beauty of vintage photographs and create a new piece of art.

Duke Arts Block Party 2024

Duke Arts Block Party 2024

September 6, 2024

Launch into the new school year with a block party from Duke Arts and the Nasher Museum! Open to all undergrads, mingle with classmates while enjoying food, live music, workshops, and of course – art!

Sashiko

Sashiko

August 27, 2024

Use running stitches to create accents and all over design to embellish your clothing and textile projects.

Día de los Muertos Ofrenda

Día de los Muertos Ofrenda

October 10, 2024 - November 7, 2024

Honor the dead with a Day of the Dead altar piece, at Duke Chapel that pays homage to the rich cultural heritage and sacred traditions of Día de los Muertos. This event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

As Water Falls

As Water Falls

September 3, 2024 - September 16, 2024

This large-scale installation is a virtual interactive waterfall from Montreal-based digital art studio Iregular. This exhibition is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

Needle felting

Needle Felting

April 9, 2024

About the Workshop Get some aggression out by stabbing things until they’re cute! In this workshop we will go over the basics of needle felting, introducing the tools, techniques, and ...

Botanical Gel Printing

Botanical Gel Printing

April 10, 2024

About the Workshop There are endless things that can be done with this unique printmaking process; for this class we will be learning to make botanical prints straight from plants ...

Visible mending

SOM: Mindful Mending

April 17, 2024

About the Workshop Learn time-honored Japanese Sashiko techniques for mending and repairing damaged textiles. Participants are encouraged to bring 2-3 items that need simple mending alterations that can be done ...

Screen printing workshop

Screen Printing

April 23, 2024

About the Workshop This two-hour workshop will cover the basics of putting images on screens (making a stencil), ink mixing, and how to effectively use a squeegee to get ink ...

María Magdalena Campos-Pons, "De Las Dos Aguas" (Of the Two Waters), 2007.

Polaroid Workshop

April 25, 2024

We welcome UNC professor and photographer Lindsay Metivier for a one-of-a-kind workshop! After reviewing photography composition techniques, learn how to transfer images from a Polaroid picture onto a new surface. ...

SOM: Mindful Watercolor

January 17, 2024

About the Workshop Relax and engage in the magic of mindful watercolor painting! Participants will learn a variety of different experimental and texture building techniques, then play with the materials ...

Lino cut printmaking

Lino Cut Printing

January 11, 2024

Taught by Sean Graham Come make your very own beautiful art print to hang in your dorm room or apartment! In this workshop students will learn the basics of linocut ...

Duke Arts Create Spotlight: Zines and Wellness

This fall, Duke Arts Create students have delved into the world of zines through a partnership with DuWell in a series of hands-on workshops. Duke students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the final zine workshop on November 10 from 6-8 p.m. As with all Duke Arts Create classes, no experience is necessary, and all levels of ability are welcomed.

Tracy Fish: “Times of Stillness”

We invited artists from Duke’s MFA EDA community to share work they have made in response to the coronavirus crisis. See the full “Home & Away” collection here. Artist’s Reflection Some ...

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Kristin Bedford: Cruise Night

We invited artists from Duke’s MFA EDA community to share work they have made in response to the coronavirus crisis. See the full “Home & Away” collection here. Artist’s Reflection When ...

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Cyclical Navigations: In the In Between

This work is an interdisciplinary installation that focuses on the ways embodied storytelling can function as a historical care practice. This installation aids in the creation of a nonlinear archive based on the stories, memories, and lived experiences of Black folks in America.

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Mario Moore

Mario Moore January 16 – March 6, 2022 Mario Moore, a painter recently commissioned by Duke University to paint a portrait of Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke, will be the artist-in-residence at the Rubenstein Arts ...

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Social Video Art

This program brings together works by Pedro Lasch that are as varied as their settings. Projected in large scale at museums and galleries, all works have been meticulously co-edited with Michael Blair to become video art in its own terms—as opposed to simply documenting Lasch’s social and site-specific art.

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Sophia Li ’21: The Transfer Station

The Transfer Station is a documentary photography project that examines what our waste says about who we are as people today. As our society’s waste gets continuously transferred, The Transfer Station addresses the question: where will it all eventually go? What will become of our discarded, once-valuable possessions—and of us?

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A Fall From Grace

A Fall From Grace is a multimedia project by Zaire McPhearson, MFA EDA '20, that tells the story of single Black women and their children involved in a cult from the mid-1970s through the early 2000s.

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Sinewaves in the Triangle

Sinewaves in the Triangle is an immersive multimedia installation that uses technology to express the artistic mind and the creative process to illicit an emotional and physical reaction in the viewer.

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Organizing Against Climate Change Through Sustainable Art

This summer, Lizzy Kramer '22 worked with Durham-born artist John Felix Arnold III on one of his recent installations, “Reimagining Cerberus,” which calls attention to the human impact on climate change. We invited Kramer to share her reflections on the experience, including her belief in the ability of art to pose questions and challenge perceptions.

Julie Platner MFA EDA ‘21: “Third Alternate Executor”

Julie Platner's short film ”Third Alternate Executor” explores the life, mortality, and ephemera of her Uncle Kenny, a human deeply entrenched in an eccentric version of normative, white, lower-class social structures. The piece seeks to elaborate on performative masculinity, objecthood, class and the American Dream.

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Mingyong Cheng MFA EDA ‘21: “Water or More”

“Water or More” is an interactive installation that uses facets of water to describe the wide-ranging emotions of human existence, taking inspiration from the reflection of water in literature, poems, and films. The project explores how to optimize space and combine the real and virtual to design an immersive audience experience.

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Yang Xu MFA EDA ‘21: “Outset”

Yang Xu’s exhibit “Outset” explores her feelings about and understanding of the college entrance examination, which is taken by tens of millions of Chinese students each June. The exam is not only the starting point for students to realize their dreams, but also a battle that requires all-out efforts.

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MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts Class of 2021

We showcase the work of this year’s graduating cohort in the MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts program in this special series of interviews. Fellow artists, MFA EDA alumni, faculty, and mentors interviewed each graduating student about their thesis exhibitions, which are on view at Duke, in Durham, and online May 7 through June 5.

Jayne Yu Wang MFA EDA ‘21: “The Unfinished Utopia”

Jayne Yu Wang's “The Unfinished Utopia” is an installation of a fictional city, Fangchuan, at the border of China, Russia, and North Korea. Following a foreign flaneur’s diary, viewers will have the opportunity to explore the city through audio, photography, architectural design, Instagram posts, and ordinary objects in this city.

Spectral Seas: Tackling Climate Change Through Storytelling

A Bass Connections team has created an art installation on view in the lobby of the Rubenstein Arts Center. “This project is emblematic of the integrative and synthetic thinking that society needs to tackle the wicked challenges of climate change and sea level,” says Betsy Albright, assistant professor at the Nicholas School.

A Painted Tribute for Raj Mehta

On March 27, a group of Duke students painted a portrait of their friend, Raj Mehta, a member of the Class of 2022 who passed away in 2020, on the Campus Drive free expression tunnel. We share a statement from Shivam Patel ’22, Raj’s former roommate, about this painted tribute.

In Its Fifth Year, the Enviro-Art Gallery Goes Global (and Virtual)

The Enviro-Art Gallery is an annual showcase of artwork that aims to bring awareness to environmental issues through visual media. Featuring a monthlong virtual gallery of over 600 works and 15 speaker sessions from April 5 to 10, students Cameron Oglesby and Isabel Wood share how this year's showcase has expanded in spite of the pandemic.

“Graphic in Transit” Honors Mexico’s Finest Printmaker

A new book co-edited by Miguel Rojas Sotelo, adjunct professor and event coordinator at the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies at Duke, is the first to put Sergio Sánchez Santamaría in context. On March 24, a panel conversation featuring the artist, celebrates the first edition release.

Yng-Ru Chen ‘01 on Why She Opened Praise Shadows Art Gallery

Yng-Ru Chen ’01, owner of Praise Shadows Art Gallery in Boston, MA, is presenting an exclusive virtual preview of the new exhibition, “Memento Mori,” on March 11. Ahead of the event, Chen connected with her former professor, Gennifer Weisenfeld, to reflect on their initial meeting at Duke and Chen's journey into the art world.

Antoine Williams’s “Othered Suns”

Antoine Williams used the Rubix as canvas for his work “Othered Suns,” a wheat paste and sound installation. Williams is a mixed-media artist and educator who uses art to explore his cultural identity.

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At the Intersection of Art and Science

Clay Sanders, who received a PhD in civil engineering from Duke in 2020, currently has a painting depicting a dance rehearsal on display in the Rubenstein Arts Center. He shares how making art has helped his career as an engineer and provided him with an outlet during difficult times.

William Paul Thomas: Black & Blue

William Paul Thomas is an artist based in Durham. He taught at Duke in 2017-2018 as the Brock Family Visiting Instructor in Studio Arts, was in residence at the Ruby in 2019, and frequently leads workshops with the Nasher Museum of Art and DukeCreate. In this profile, junior Dani Yan digs deeper into the "magnetic" portraits in Thomas's Cyanosis series.

Sofia Zymnis ’21: Virtual Balconies

Sofia Zymnis '21 shares a project started as a pseudo-autobiographical documentation of her own experience during lockdown that has now developed into a constantly-growing website, inviting people to share their own balcony community in order to grow a shared virtual one.

Bill Fick Sparks Action Through Screen Printing

Bill Fick shares his recent political prints, which you might also spot in and around Durham. Fick is assistant director of visual and studio arts for the Rubenstein Arts Center and lecturing fellow in the Department of Art, Art History and Visual Studies.

Beverly McIver is Painting Politics

Beverly McIver was asked to participate in political public art project led by People for the American Way, and it sparked a series of directly political paintings. McIver is Professor of the Practice in Duke's Department of Art, Art History and Visual Studies.