Exhibition Dates: Sept. 24, 2018 – Jan. 11, 2019

This stunning exhibition features several works by artist, author, and former Professor and Chair of the UND Department of Art & Design, Jackie McElroy-Edwards. McElroy-Edwards’ creative exploration of the North Dakota landscape offers the viewer a chance to both appreciate the beauty of the region while simultaneously escaping realism through her often surreal representation of the land, sky, and objects depicted in her work.

Prior to retiring with her husband Tom to Arizona from Grand Forks, Jackie McElroy- Edwards made a significant donation of artwork to UND Art Collections. More than 200 pieces of work were received – including watercolors, pastels, and prints.

Over the past year, a small group of UND students and I have been documenting the approximately 10,000 pieces of art housed within UND Art Collections. When we began working on the McElroy Collection, interesting conversations about the artist and the artwork emerged. The students showed a special interest in her brightly colored, regionally focused drawings, paintings, and prints. For this exhibition, I have chosen works that were most memorable to us, sparking dialogue about subject matter, use of color, McElroy-Edwards’ artistic processes, and the common themes we observed throughout her portfolios.

Sarah M. Heitkamp