Himmelfarb’s 36th annual art show is in full swing, bringing an exciting range of photography, acrylics, water colors, knitting, and mixed media to Himmelfarb’s first floor. If you haven’t already, come take a study break and peruse the work of your fellow students, staff, and faculty.
In the meantime, enjoy this sampling of work and the artists in their own words.
And if you’d like to drop a few lines about your art or creative process, email them to randy.plym@gwu.edu. Every piece has a story, and we love to hear them.
Frederick Jacobsen's "Giverny Lilies" [Photograph]
As a photographer and clinical researcher into the effects of light on the brain and behavior I am very attuned to the continually shifting perspectives of light and color in my environment. Visiting Monet's Giverny pond and gardens provided me the opportunity to view and feel how this exquisite environment facilitated his remarkable Nymphéas paintings while suffering progressive visual loss (due to bilateral cataracts). "Giverny Lilies" is an homage to Monet’s work and vision through a 21st century lens.
Frederick M. Jacobsen, Faculty, SMHS
Brittany Smith's "VA Mountains" [Watercolor on Paper]
I believe 'VA Mountains' is one of my earliest watercolor paintings. It is inspired by a photo I took many years ago during my time at UVA when some friends and I drove along Blue Ridge Parkway. That day was one of my favorite days when I was an undergraduate student and the painting serves as a reminder of that mini-road trip.
In terms of process, I have a simple painting style since I'm trying to figure out watercolor as a medium. This was painting in a beginner's class and my instructor actually helped with the texture of the stone railing along the road. I haven't painted anything new in a few years, but I want to return to watercolor soon and fill a sketchbook with watercolor experiments to build my confidence as a painter.
Brittany Smith, Staff, Himmelfarb
Rebecca Kyser's "Quackery" [Ink and Colored Pencil on Paper]
I'm a big believer in the power of comics to make scientific and historical topics more accessible to the public. So when I heard about the art show, it seemed the best opportunity to put that belief into practice.
Rebecca Kyser, Staff, Himmelfarb
Mehrshad Fahim Devin's "Post-Op" [Photograph]
Post-op was inspired by the conversation's I've had with patients as a medical student. I've had the opportunity to speak with some patients both before and after a surgical operation. I found that pre-op patients held a lot of uncertainty and fear for the future; but after the surgery, amidst the pain and recovery, their eyes almost always glimmered with relief. The piece is meant to represent this relief.
Mehrshad Fahim Devin, Student, SMHS
Basil Considine's "The Faerie Queene of New Prague: the Court" [Digital Photo Painting and Composite]
You probably haven't heard of New Prague, Minnesota (population: 8,000), but hundreds of schoolchildren in Madagascar can find it on a map. Why? The city – and its mischievous Faerie Queen, who wants everything done properly and turns pirates into frogs – were front and center in a series of storytelling performances that I delivered as a Fulbrighter. Each time I visited their school, the children begged to hear more stories about cold, snowy Minnesota (Brr!) and the beautiful Faerie Queen. And then, one day, a teacher asked me if there was a picture of her...
How can you compete with a child's imagination? That's a challenge for any artist, but I had a good set of raw materials: a photo shoot with the model for the Faerie Queen (Lisa Bark, an actor from New Prague, MN), a flair for theatrical makeup, and a lifetime of adoring complex Renaissance tableaus and Pre-Raphaelite paintings. Throw in a set of original fairy tales that I'd crafted for the children, a set of digital painting brushes in Photoshop, and I started to sketch a set of storybook scenes and fill them with extra details – to reward staring at the picture again and again.
Some people say that digital painting is faster. You don't have to wait for paint to dry, but after more than 400 layers and more than 10,000 brush strokes...not for me!
“Summer Beauty” by Dana Bolsteins (2022 Art Show submission, photography)
Calling all artists! Do you have a painting, print, or photograph that you'd like to share? How about some needlework, pottery, or hand-made jewelry?
Himmelfarb Library is excited to announce its 2024 Annual Art Show, which will run from Monday, April 15th through Friday, May 10th. This event, now in its 36th year, is open to all students, faculty, and staff of the SMHS, GWSPH, and GW Nursing. Join us for an opening reception in the library on Monday, April 15th, from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm.
Key Dates:
Submission Deadline: April 11, 2024 (Thursday)
Opening Reception: April 15, 2024 (Monday), 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Art Show Dates: April 15, 2024 (Monday) - May 10, 2024 (Friday)
We are accepting submissions through Thursday, April 11th. Please drop off your artwork at the first floor Circulation Desk. Digital copies of your work can be included in our Virtual Art Show, by sending the file(s) to himmelfarb@gwu.edu. You can submit exclusively to the Virtual Art Show if you prefer.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact us by email at himmelfarb@gwu.edu or by phone at (202) 994-2850.
If you need some inspiration, enjoy these submissions from previous years. Check out more prior submissions in the Himmelfarb Library Annual Art Show collections in the Health Sciences Research Commons!
“The Faerie Queen of New Prague” by Basil Considine (2023 submission)
Himmelfarb Library is celebrating its 35th Annual Art Show this year! We hope you’ve had time to stop by the library and check out the wonderful submissions in person. The art show is open through Thursday, May 11, 2023. Come support your colleagues in their artistic endeavors and get one last look at these fantastic pieces! If you can’t make it to Himmelfarb to check out this year’s submissions, check out the virtual art show in our institutional repository, the Health Sciences Research Commons.
If you have an artsy hobby, it’s never too early to start working on an art project you can submit to next year’s art show! Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your next art project, or you just enjoy looking at beautiful things, stop in and see this year’s art show before it’s over next week!
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s show!
Cherry Blossom Photo Contest Submissions:
The Ethereal Beauty of Cherry Blossoms by Amrapali PatelIn The Blooms by Iris BrammerBeauty of GW by Jeffrey Kai (Cherry Blossom Photo Contest Winner)Pharmacology Study Break by Logan Prock
General Submissions:
Lungs by Aparna NanduruThe Faerie Queen of New Prague by Basil ConsidineJoshua Tree National Park by Dylan ParsonsSunrise Over Pebbled Shore by Frederick JacobsenLone Walk by Nanami MiyazakiTreat Me Like a God by Soneha DattaHeart by Caroline CoxFoggy the Hippo by Patrick CorrKnit Knacks by Sandy Hoar
Himmelfarb Staff Submissions:
Sunset by the River by Brittany SmithMorro Bay Goats by Laura AbateThe King by Lonnie WilliamsRBG by Ruth Bueter14K by Stacy BrodyLooking Out Over the Tidal Basin by Paul Levett
Virtual Art Show Submissions:\
America’s Struggle by Harry B. BurkeFerengi - 1830s by Fiona FimmelBreath and Motion by an anonymous artistMaine Coast by Richard RicciardiAppalachian Mountain Sky at Night by Laurie A. Theeke
If you haven’t submitted your artwork, there is still time! We are excited to invite you to share your creative projects with us! Himmelfarb Library’s 35th annual art show features photographs, paintings of all mediums, drawings, sculptures, and more created by GW’s health sciences community! Submissions are currently being accepted through April 13th, so submit your favorite work of art soon! We accept a wide range of art, from paintings, photography, needlework, pottery, handmade jewelry, and more. Feel free to contact us with questions about submissions at himmelfarb@gwu.edu.
Important Dates:
Submissions: Now through Thursday, April 13th. Submissions can be dropped off at the Himmelfarb Circulation/Reference Desk. For each submission, we need the name of your piece and the artist’s name.
Opening Reception: Monday, April 17, 4:00pm - 5:30pm.
Art Show: Monday, April 17 through Thursday, May 11
Calling all artists! Do you have a painting, print, or photograph that you'd like to share? How about some needlework, pottery, or handmade jewelry? Himmelfarb Library is excited to announce the 2023 Himmelfarb Library Annual Art Show! We invite you to display your artwork in this year's show!
The Himmelfarb Art Show, now in its 35th year, is open to all students, faculty, and staff of the SMHS, SPH, and SON. We are currently accepting submissions through Thursday, April 13th.
Important Dates:
Submissions: Now through Thursday, April 13th. Submissions can be dropped off at the Himmelfarb Circulation/Reference Desk.
Opening Reception: Monday, April 17th, 4:00pm - 5:00pm.
Art Show: Monday, April 17th through Thursday, May 11th.
To submit a digital copy of your work for inclusion in the Virtual Art Show, please send the file to himmelfarb@gwu.edu. You may also submit exclusively to the Virtual Art Show if you prefer.
As part of this year's art show, Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb presents the 2023 Cheery Blossom Photo Contest! Enter your best photo of this year's cherry blossoms by Friday, April 7th for a chance to win a prize! Contest entries will be featured in the Virtual Art Show. Photos will be judged based on creativity, originality, and overall artistic impact. The contest winner will be selected by the members of the Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Committee. Sumibt print photographs in person at the Himmelfarb Circulation/Reference Desk, or submit your digital photos online. JPG, PDF, and PNG files only please. Read the full contest rules to learn more.
We are excited to invite you to share your creative projects with us! Himmelfarb Library’s annual art show features photographs, paintings of all mediums, drawings, sculptures, and more created by GW’s health sciences community! Starting March 13th, we encourage you to submit your favorite work of art! If you are uncertain about what types of media may or may not be accepted, feel free to contact us at himmelfarb@gwu.edu.
Important Dates:
Submissions: Monday, March 13 through Thursday, April 13. Submissions can be dropped off at the Himmelfarb Circulation/Reference Desk. For each submission, we need the name of your piece and the artist’s name.
Opening Reception: Monday, April 17, 4:00pm - 5:30pm.
Art Show: Monday, April 17 through Thursday, May 11
Need some inspiration? Here are some of last year’s Art Show submissions:
“Biden Victory Celebration - Harvard Square” by Dylan Parsons (35mm film photo)
The Himmelfarb Library 34th Annual Art Show made its return this year! We hope you’ve had time to come check out the wonderful submissions in-person. The in-person art show is drawing to a close this week. You have until Friday, May 6th to view submissions on the library’s first floor. Come support your colleagues in their artistic endeavors and get one last peek at these fantastic pieces!
Can’t make it to Himmelfarb in-person to view this year’s submissions? No problem. You can view this year’s submissions to both the in-person and virtual art show in the Himmelfarb Library Annual Art Show 2022 collection of our institutional repository, the Health Sciences Research Commons.
This is also a perfect time to brainstorm what you might like to submit to next year’s art show! Do you enjoy photography, knitting, crochet, needlework, painting, stained glass, pottery, drawing, or mixed media art? You have a whole year to work on possible submissions to next year's art show! Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your own creativity, or you just appreciate beautiful artwork, stop in and see this year’s art show before it ends on Friday, May 6th! We can’t wait to see you!
In the meantime, enjoy the following selection of submissions!
“Bad Joints” by Sair Lazzaro (3D print, sealing wax)“Discolouration” by Chrisopher Aduwari (Acrylic on canvas)“Archives” by Wesley Baker (Architectural Photography)“Warm Evening by the Memorial” by Bilal Ahmed (Digital photography)“Heart of Genomics” by Zach Falk (Colored pencil sketch on paper)
The Himmelfarb Library staff is excited to celebrate the return of our annual art show and this year there are two ways to participate! The art show will take place in-person on the library’s first floor and online via our institutional repository, the Health Science Research Commons. By choosing to display your artwork in our virtual art show, your paintings, drawings, sculptures or other creative works will be archived in our Himmelfarb Library Annual Art Show 2022 collection!
Our in-person art show will take place in the library from Monday, April 11th until Friday, May 6th. To celebrate the start of the art show, there will be an opening reception Monday, April 11th from 4-5:30 pm on the library’s first floor. Come out to support your colleagues and view the amazing artwork on display.
Interested in submitting to the art show? Today, April 8th, is the last day! Bring your artwork (up to five pieces per artist) to the Circulation/Reference desk by 4pm. If you’d like to participate in the virtual art show, please email your files to Catherine Sluder at crharris@gwu.edu. It is possible to participate in both the in-person and virtual show or you can pick one of the shows and participate that way.
If you have questions, please contact Catherine Sluder. We hope to see you during the reception or over the course of the in-person art show!
Do you enjoy painting, sketching, or taking photos? Come share your artistic side and participate in Himmelfarb Library's Art Show! Himmelfarb's annual Art Show has been a proud tradition for over 30 years, when each spring semester the first floor of the library is transformed into an art gallery displaying the works of our community.
We invite the faculty, students, and staff of SMHS, GWSPH, SON, and GW Hospital to submit their art. We accept everything from paintings to sculptures to textiles to woodworking, and anything in between! Each artist is invited to submit up to five works.
Image: "Weathered Window, Lyon, France," by Thomas Kohout.
Not on campus? Submit images of your art to Susan Koenig (skoenig1@gwu.edu) for our Digital Art Show, to be displayed on TV screens throughout the Himmelfarb Library.
We are accepting submissions in-person at the Reference Desk starting today, March 2nd, through March 30th. The opening reception will be April 2nd at 4PM, refreshments will be served. Everyone’s art will be displayed through April 30th. We hope to see you there!
If you have any questions, contact Susan Koenig at skoenig1@gwu.edu.
