Work by C-N’s David Underwood is focus of Maryville exhibit

^{“I Dreamt I Fell Asleep, 2012” by David Underwood}

The work of Carson-Newman’s David Underwood is the focus of a November exhibition in the Blackberry Farm Gallery at Maryville College. The event, which runs through the entire month of November, marks Underwood’s 24th solo exhibit.

For more than 25 years, Underwood has explored the possibilities of what he calls “the composite photograph.” “Working with grids and multiple images allows me to expand the language of still photography beyond the limitations of single-frame imagery,” explains the Carson-Newman Art Department chair. “Although my work is primarily formalist in approach, I am interested in how combinations of images work together both visually and thematically. Underwood also says that his work often focuses on photography itself as well as the decisions explored while editing, printing, and assembling.

The November exhibit pulls from his composite photography series and includes some color and black and white component original photographs. “My newest series involves the inclusion of the title of each artwork as painted text or incorporated plastic lettering on the surface of the work,” notes Underwood, who says the text has an amount of intended ambiguity, letting each viewer infer his or her own meaning from the work.

A closing day reception with the artist will be held on Friday, November 30, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Admission is free.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Underwood joined Carson-Newman’s faculty in 1990. He earned his MFA in Studio Art.