On Sept. 2, the University of New Hampshire Gallery of Art (GOA) opened its first exhibition of the school year: "Current," showcasing the work of faculty from the art and art history department. The University hosts a faculty exhibition triennially, showcasing the work of faculty members over the last several years.
A reception for the new exhibition was held on Sept. 5 from 5-7pm, inviting students, faculty and community members to come view the exhibition and speak with the artists. The reception featured refreshments and lively conversation. Many students attended the exhibition to see the works of their professors.
Professor Ben Cariens, Department Chair of the Art and Art History Department, joked to the reception crowd that it was time for the students to analyze and grade their professor's works. Cariens is one of the faculty artists featured in the exhibition, and also the director of the GOA. He is responsible for many of the organizational and executional aspects of gallery exhibitions. The GOA also has an array of student interns that manage the space and set up for the showcases, which includes painting the walls, designing the graphics, and installing the art pieces.
The message of "Current," explicitly stated on the exhibition’s website and written on its introductory gallery wall, is: “diachronic, it exists in the flow of time. Yet it is also synchronic, it exists in time as an expression of our present moment.” The exhibition showcases various artistic mediums, including sculpture, fashion design, painting and photography. Each faculty member chose to work with mediums that they had directed their focus and attention towards over these past several years.
“Many of the faculty may be working in a number of modes or interests, but a good show is generally seeing the area of most developed focus,” said Cariens.
The GOA has several exhibitions planned in the coming months, the first will include works from local artists Eric Katzman and Jakob Fioole. Cariens said there are plans in the works for a group show in the early spring that will be curated by local artists and UNH artist-in-residence Shaina Gates—whose work is also featured in the faculty exhibition.
"Current Fall 2025 Faculty Exhibition" runs until October 17. Admission is free and open to all.
Featured Artists:
Sachiko Akiyama • Michael Cardinali • Benjamin Cariens • Brian Chu • Alain Co • Sarah Elliott • Brett Gamache • Shaina Gates • Julee Holcombe • Kate Knox • Amanda Letscher • Maureen Mills • Joshua Rondeau • David Shaw • Emily Trenholm • Leah Woods • Liese Zahabi • Steven Zoldak
