[PHOTO ATTACHMENT]

MEDIA CONTACT: Polly Burks

561-297-2595, pburks@fau.edu

FAU Presents Exhibition about DIRT

BOCA RATON, Fla. (December 14, 2015) – Dirt, the unclean stuff that gets under your

nails, also inspires art. “DIRT: Yuta Suelo Udongo Tè” is a group exhibition curated by artist

Onajide Shabaka featuring many South Florida artists. The exhibition will be on view at the

University Galleries, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus from Friday, Jan. 22 to Saturday,

March 5, 2016. An opening reception will be in the Ritter Art Gallery on Saturday, Jan. 23 at

6:30 p.m.

The exhibition title refers to the different ways that diverse cultures interpret dirt, not

only physically, but also spiritually and symbolically. The exhibition includes site-specific

installations, sculpture, photography, paintings, drawings and mixed-media works. The

inspiration for this exhibition dates to 1999 when artist and curator Onajide Shabaka visited Ely,

Minn. Attracted to the area’s vibrant red oxide dirt, Shabaka saw a connection between it and

elements of the West African Yoruba religion, particularly the deity Orisha Oggun, the god of

minerals associated with iron and industry. Shabaka’s subsequent research led to his recognition

that responses to dirt vary widely across the world.

“We are excited to present this exhibition about DIRT to the South Florida community,”

said Rod Faulds, director of the University Galleries at FAU. “Investigating how diverse cultures

interpret this fundamental substance aligns with our mission here at the University Galleries,

where we seek to understand differing points of view through art. We are also pleased to support

South Florida artists, particularly Onajide Shabaka, who has long been a stalwart of the area’s art

community.”

Artists in the exhibition include Dona Altemus; Robert Chambers; William Cordova;

Edouard Duval Carrié; Veronica Scharf Garcia; Mark Hahn; Alette Simmons Jimenez; Kim

Nicolini; Lori Nozick; David Rohn; Ralph Provisero; Yanira Collado; Debra Wilk and Jovan

Karlo Villalba.

There will be a public program to complement the exhibition on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7

p.m. It will include a panel discussion which will include Edward Petuch, Ph.D., FAU professor

of geology, along with a series of readings by writers and poets John Dufresne, Elizabeth

Jacobson and Geoffrey Philp, and the FAU creative writing team who have focused on the topic

of dirt. The discussion will be organized by award-winning poet Michael Hettich. For more

information and a full schedule of events, call the University Galleries at 561-297-2661 or visit

www.fau.edu/galleries.

The exhibition and programs are made possible by grants from State of Florida,

Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture;

Cultural Council of Palm Beach County; Beatrice Cummings Mayer and R.A. Ritter Foundation.

Museum Education and AMP Programs made possible by Kaye Arts Integration Endowment and

a grant from the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties.

.-FAU –

About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

Dona AltemusLives and works in Miami, FL

Detail of Equal Power, 2013 paper, drywall, fabric, wax, photography, pen, watercoloroil paint, car engine grime124 x 71 in.

Courtesy of the artist

High resolution image available upon request

Edouard Duval-CarriéLives and works in Miami, FL

Tainted Purple #1, 2011mixed media on mylar in artist frame, with internal illumination (cord)33 x 33 in.

Courtesy of the artistHigh resolution image available upon request

Robert ChambersLives and works in Miami, FL

Interplanetary Footprint, 2012marble, antique microscope, brass ring18 x 10.5 x 10.5 in.

Courtesy of the artistHigh resolution image available upon request

William CordovaLives and works in Miami, FL and New York

Quilt, 2013natural oak wood tray, reclaimed vintage paint chips from a handball mural originally at the Valley Park, Bronx, NY2 x 32 x 24 in.

Courtesy of the artist and Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New YorkHigh resolution image available upon request

Ritter Art GalleryJanuary 22, 2016 - March 5, 2016

For high resolution images contact:

Cynthia Stucki, cstucki2013@fau.edu

DIRT: Yuta Suelo Udongo TèSelected Artwork Image Sheet

Other artists include Debra Wilk, Ralph Provisero and Yanira Collado

Mark HahnLives and works in Tuscon, AZ

Ray Mine Series, 2012archival pigment photographic print12 x 16 in.

Courtesy of the artist

Kim NicoliniLives and works in Tuscon, AZ

Dirty Yard Series, 2013archival pigment print16 x 20 in.

Courtesy of the artistHigh resolution image available upon request

Lori NozickLives and works in Miami, FL

Small village of dirt houses, 20124 small and 2 large houses, ceramic tile12 x 48 x 60 in.

Courtesy of the artistHigh resolution image available upon request

Alette Simmons-JimenezLives and works in Miami, FL

Losing My Past, 2012shedded dog hair, spray paint, quilting on canvases, wood frame19 x 16 x 2 in.

Courtesy of the artistHigh resolution image available upon request

DIRT: Yuta Suelo Udongo TèSelected Artwork Image Sheet

Ritter Art GalleryJanuary 22, 2016 - March 5, 2016

University GalleriesDorothy F. Schmidt

College of Arts and LettersFlorida Atlantic University, Boca Raton

David RohnLives and works in Miami, FL

Dirty Wig 1, 2013 photograph and Plexiglas on wood24 x 18 in.

Courtesy of the artistHigh resolution image available upon request

Veronica Scharf GarciaLives and works in Miami, FL

Soiled on Blue, 2013raku salver(a salver is a tray used by a servant to present a letter/card.)1 x 3 x 6 in.

Courtesy of the artist

Jovan Karlo VillalbaLives and works in Miami, FL

The Wake, 2012oil on stainless steel and dirt, twigs, rocks48 x 48 x 20 in.

Courtesy of the artist

DIRT: Yuta Suelo Udongo TèSelected Artwork Image Sheet

Ritter Art GalleryJanuary 22, 2016 - March 5, 2016

University GalleriesDorothy F. Schmidt

College of Arts and LettersFlorida Atlantic University, Boca Raton