The Fairmont State museum studies students enrolled in Exhibition and Design are preparing for Dr. Carolyn Crislip-Tacy’s pottery exhibition in the Ruth Ann Musick Folk Gallery at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center. The grand opening of the exhibit is Thursday, March 28, and will begin with an artist presentation at 7 p.m. with a reception to follow. This event is free and open to the public.

The students working on the exhibit are creating context for Dr. Crislip-Tacy’s work by creating panels and captions that include biographical information about the artist, information about tools and glazes, and research about the field. The work is printed, dry-mounted, and placed in the exhibit.

The museum studies program is a skills-based minor that compliments many academic disciplines. It includes courses in museum interpretation and education, collection management, and material culture. This year the students in the program have visited The Heinz History Center and the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh and are traveling to local museums including the Arthurdale Heritage Museum this semester.

The featured artist, Dr. Crislip-Tacy, retired last year as the dean of the School of Education at Fairmont State University.  A graduate of Fairmont State, Carolyn began her studies in art, but changed her major. Twenty-four years later, Carolyn returned to her passion by taking classes in pottery. The exhibit includes some of her early work as well as recent creations.