Review of the Exhibition Program at the FAU Jupiter Library

This library has been hosting contemporary art exhibitions since 2005. It is easy to forget how many great artists we have worked with over the years. We decided to post a list by year, of everyone we have worked with. We would like to thank them for sharing their art and vision with us, and making the program successful.

Denise Moody-Tackley

Appendix I: Curatorial Inventory of the Exhibition Program at the John D. MacArthur Campus Library (at Florida Atlantic University).

2005-2006

Rosemarie Chiarlone

Katie Deits

Terryl Lawrence

Wendy DesChene

Ray Russotto

2006-2007

Sibel Kocabasi

Christopher Fay

Mathew Hyner

Denise Moody Tackley

2007-2008

Kyle Trowbridge

Nancy Nieves

Giannina Coppiano Dwin

Martin Casuso

Karen Chinander Dye

Patricia Roshaven

Jonathan Stein

John Sevigny

2008-2009

Billie Grace Lynn

Optic Nerve (MOCA North Miami)

Melissa McDowell

Luis Garcia Nerey

Jacklyn Brickman

Alejandro Leibovich (Aleloop)

Kelley McKee

Jacek Gancarz 

BA Bosaiya

Bill Keaggy

Tom Virgin

Wendy Allen

2009-2010

Brandon Boyd of Incubus: permanent exhibit

Karen Williams

Robert Farber

Jennifer Palmer

Mari Richards

Dante K Hayes

Jennifer Van Winkle

Mary Farmilant 

Cathy Breslaw

Tom Whitton

Jackie Kern

2010-2011

Jonathan Stein

Birds are Nice 

Derek Weisberg

Brian Reedy

Tom Virgin

Leah Brown

Adrienne Rose Gionta

Noah Z. Jones: permanent exhibition

Birds are Nice 

Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.

Jackie Kern
Z. Koppisch
Karen Leader

2011-2012

Kevin McDermott

Edward Gorey

Cheryll Tall

Peter Symons

Kristen Murtaugh

John McCoy and Amelia Costa

Chiura Obata

Karla Walter and Dennis Tishkowsky

Patricia Gutierrez

Josafat Miranda

Juan Carlos Zaldivar

Donatella Linari

2012-2013

Karla Walter

Dennis Tishkowsky

Peter Symons

Kristen Murtaugh

Patricia Guttierez

John McCoy

Amelia Costa

Films4peace

Peter Bui

Birds are Nice

TD Gillispie

Suzanne Duffy

Jackie Tufford

2013-2014

Anna Girgis

Maxine Spector

Scherer Ouporov

Mathew Falvey

Cara McKinley

Stephen Backhus

Rick Newton

2014-2015

Rolando Chang Barrero
Sarah Wetterer

2015-2016

T J Ahearn

Birds are Nice 

Francie Bishop Good 

Leah Brown

Giannina Copiana Dwin

Dana Donaty 

Raheleh Filsoofi

AdrienneRose Gionta

Carol Jazzar          

Jacqueline Kern

Sibel Kocabasi

Tina La Porta

Alette Simons-Jimenez

Appendix II (two) Exhibition Catalogs

(Available for purchase/preview on Blurb.com; listed on Worldcat; housed in the permanent collection of Florida Atlantic University Libraries; available through Interlibrary loan)

1.      Playing with food: Giannina Coppiano Dwin 2008

2.      The Self and the Other: Luis Garcia Nerey 2009

3.      Place to Place: Robert Farber 2010

4.      GingerBlack Man: Race and identity in the work of Donte K Hayes 2010

5.      Exploring Gender with Jonathan Stein 2010

6.      You were almost extinct too: Derek Weisberg 2010

7.      Shifting Nature: the artwork of Juan Carlos Zaldivar  2011

8.      Rick Newton: The Next Attempt for Life on Earth, 2013

9.      Rolando Chang Barrero: Mi Pajaro, 2014

10.  Artistically Speaking: Women’s Roles in Contemporary Art. 2015

Artist spotlight: TD Gillispie

TD Gillispie is a local artist and has had a solo show in our library gallery. It is our opinion that she is one of the best artists in South Florida and one of the most underrepresented.  Please take a moment to explore her work. You can learn more about her at her website www.tdgillispie.com and find her in instagram @TDGILLISPIE

Artist Bio:

TD Gillispie lives and works in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and  museums including Dacia Gallery in New York City, Art Palm Beach, 101

Exhibit in Miami, Boca Raton Museum of Art, and  Whitespace: The Mordes Collection in West Palm Beach. Her work is included in the Mordes And Helander collections. Gillispie's paintings have  been featured in Studio Visit Magazine. She  was born  in Columbus, Ohio and attended Marshall University.

Artist statement:

I have always been a maker, a creator, a fixer of things. The practice of taking something in disrepair, be it furniture or a house for example, and refinishing or restoring it has always been a thrill to me and, in most cases, necessary. So, therefore, this same principle spills over into the way I create art.

I work in several different mediums but keep a cohesive look as a whole.

For each specific artwork, I choose a medium to most effectively speak the story I wish to tell. I collect vintage imagery and broken or well­worn toys from long ago for inspiration in my paintings.

I use specific recycled vintage or antique items for installation and mixed media, such as salvaged windows, doors, tv’s, church pews, lingerie, etc. These items are collected over a long period of time or thoughtfully sought out after writing a site­specific proposal for new work.

In making an installation I usually choose to create a room: a personal defined space for reflective thought with a prompted topic of inspiration.

Typically in painting, my goal is to use subject matter in which I balance sweet and sinister, or cute and creepy, by not stepping over the line in either direction.

If work is built on mistakes and corrections, I feel it gives richness and layers to the piece, thus adding a human quality as compared to the journey of our life on earth.

Artist interview with Agata Ren

We recently sat down with Agata Ren, a local painter focusing on the environment and endangered species. You can learn more about her and her work by visiting her website agata-ren-art.com.

Here is what she had to say...

1. When did you begin to define yourself as an artist?

I think the first time I called myself an artist was in 1999 after I got commissioned for a big painting by a German doctor. Since I was a kid I wanted to be an artist but my parents response was not encouraging. I always loved painting and creating and my class mates asked me to paint for them in art class. It took me many years, many inner struggles, determination and a supportive husband to become a full time artist.

2. Is there one specific piece or series of work that altered or defined what type of work you would make?

I think my work is an unconscious outcome of inspiration from hundreds of artworks I've seen in museums, galleries and shows. My own Dodo definitely initiated my series depicting endangered species that I'm working on ever since. In 2013 after, what I call, a vision I had one night I brought my idea into reality and created the Dodo.


3. Are there any artists in particular that have influenced you and your work?

Up to my early 20s I was a big Dali fan. Then I got into graffiti/street art as well as into serious art like Gerhard Richter, Joseph Beuys and Andreas Gursky form the Arts Academy of the city of Düsseldorf, Germany, since I started studying in Düsseldorf. The interest in all those different artist could explain my artistic vary and range prior to 2013.

4. Do you find that your geographical location helps or hinders your ability to show the type of work you want to? Why?

I find my current work was shown in key places in Palm Beach County and in South Florida and won some awards even in those 2 years I started with this series. I assume it's a proof for acceptance and recognition of my artwork.


5. How do you pick your subject matter for your work?

My artwork is currently dedicated to endangered species. I care a lot about our environment because I have children and I want them and their children to grow up in a healthy and beautiful world. I love people, animals and the nature and I understand that we need a functioning Eco system for all of us to thrive! I feel even though I'm a small part of a large arrangement it can make a difference what I do and I want to give positive! Giving positive would mean to me that my artwork would inspire somebody to feel deeply enough to face the realities of our time! That we are creating our future and when we transform we change our future! My motivation is my love for life and I want to donate spirit.

6. What draws you to painting more than any other medium?

I am drawn to painting because I love to create with my hands. The more hands on I am the more liberating it feels to me. That explains why I'm drawn to large scale artwork and why I often use my own hands and fingers as a brush! Sometimes the act of creating an artwork feels like a dance where I use my whole body movement for the ceremony. It feels as if I have a primitive desire to create that runs through my body anticipating to be exposed.

7. What do you want to accomplish as an artist?

I want to inspire people! I want to show that people are important! I want to show the lure of our nature! I want to show the beauty of living and extinct creatures. I want for my artwork to give an emotional imprint that stimulates all senses.


8. Where else can we see your work- galleries, online, etc.?

My work was shown at the PBI airport, the Cultural Council of Palm Beach, Coral Springs Museum of Art, the Lighthouse ArtCenter Museum to name a few. Some of my work can be seen in public places, for example in Pompano I have a Painted fish sculpture, a mural at Pine Grove Elementary School and street art in Delray.

I have a studio in the heart of Boca where I have people come see my work by appointment and my work is constantly in different exhibitions as well.
Stay tuned on Facebook and agata-ren-art.com

Artist Statement

“Everything seems to be connected on our planet earth. I'm interested in the consequences of human behavior. How much responsibility do we have and what do we owe to the planet if we are to be the most intelligent species? I’m passionate about creating delightful artwork consisting of and featuring endangered and recently extinct species while using old social publications documenting peoples interests and having those temptations fade into the background! My artwork reflects on our society. My mission is to bring about awareness through my artwork.”

New season begins August 20

Just a reminder there is still time to see our current exhibitions:
Cathy Breslaw: Material Resonance
Tom Whitton: Hungry

both shows running until August 13, 2010.

Our new gallery season opens with two Miami artists


Jonathan Stein
Exploring Gender
August 20 - October 15, 2010
Artist website


Birds are Nice
Introducing Birds are Nice
August 20 - October 15, 2010
Artist website