Two Faculty Members Show Art in "Sabbatical Works" at Utah State University

"Sabbatical Works" is the title of a new exhibit now open at Utah State University. Running through Jan. 31, the exhibit features work by two art department faculty members, Christopher Terry and Craig Law.


"Sabbatical Works" can be seen in the Twain Tippetts Exhibition Hall of the Chase Fine Arts Center on the Utah State campus. An opening reception is Friday, Jan. 10, from 6–8 p.m. and the public is invited. The artists will be on hand to discuss their work.

Terry will show a collection of works on paper and Law presents photographs, many in digital format. Work by both was created during their 2001–02 sabbaticals, and both spent time in Europe.

Terry received a Fulbright grant to teach and conduct research in Essen, Germany. He and his family lived in Germany during the year.

Faculty members must apply for sabbatical leave, Terry said, and there must be a specific goal for the year. In Terry’s case he completed research in the color theory of the Bauhaus artists.

"Sabbatical leave gives professors time to focus on personal research and to renew and refresh their knowledge in a particular area," Terry said. "This exhibit is our sabbatical report — Craig and I are returning to campus and sharing our work and experience with the community. We are grateful for the opportunity."

Viewers will not see paintings of cathedrals and European scenes in his work, Terry said. These are not oil paintings. The works are all gouache and ink on paper, and the subject matter is still life imagery.

Terry is a professor of art and joined the art department faculty 14 years ago. This was his second sabbatical in Germany and it was, he said, a different experience in every way.

Law spent a portion of his sabbatical time in Europe as well — in England, Scotland and Poland. Back in the states, Texas added a little spice to the mix.

"Sabbaticals are a time for faculty to retool," Law said. "And for me, that was very much the case. It’s a time to renew and refresh, and this exhibit shows some of my new images that incorporate today’s technology."

Law spent his time learning the digital realm of photography, he said. Eighty to ninety percent of his work in "Sabbatical Works" are digital prints.

During his time in England and Scotland, Law rented a car and traveled into the countryside.

"Instead of photographing European cities and sites, I photographed quite a bit of the prehistoric culture," Law said. "There are burial mounds, ruins, the land and landscape — a lot of ancient sites."

Law is also known for his photographic project that documents rock art in Utah. He combined this previous work with new work in Texas.

"There is a style of rock art near the Pecos River that relates to the canyon art in Utah," he said. "I wanted to make some photographic comparisons between the two forms."

Visitors to "Sabbatical Works" will see Law’s landscape work from Scotland and England in addition to the rock art from Texas and Utah.

"My sabbatical combined travel and the exploration of new technology," Law concluded. "I used new techniques to photograph ancient sites — the old and the new."

That, both Law and Terry agree, is the purpose of a sabbatical — invigorating their teaching with new techniques and ideas while never forgetting the old.

Hours for the Tippetts Exhibition Hall are 1–5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If the gallery is closed, contact the art office, FAC 122. "Sabbatical Works" is free and open to the public.

Contacts: Christopher Terry (435) 797-3409 and Craig Law (435) 797-8235
Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354