Faculty Emerita Sharon Harper is the latest artist to be featured as part of Brick City Gallery’s continued Emeritus Series. Unfolding the Map is on view July 5 – August 4 and will be open for two First Friday Art Walks July 7 and August 4 from 6-8 p.m.

Unfolding the Map features work in painting, drawing, ceramics, and crochet that use visual metaphors and self-portraits to create a personal narrative of Harper’s own life experiences. These new works come from several sources of inspiration, “My imagery draws from personal reflections on loss, illness, aging, the pandemic, survival, and buoyancy.  I most recently have been working with houses as a metaphor for family and home; sometimes they are weights, sometimes anchors, and sometimes floats that hold you up,” Harper shares.

Harper taught painting and drawing in Missouri State’s Art and Design Department for 25 years. Former students may also remember senior exhibition, undergraduate independent study, graduate seminar, and graduate directed studies classes taught by Harper.

“I am pleased to be part of the emeritus series and look forward to sharing my work with students, colleagues, and the community. It is always productive to be able to see a body of work shown together and see how pieces communicate with one another,” Harper adds.

Brick City Gallery is located at 215 W. Mill Street, Springfield, MO 65806. The gallery can be visited Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Call 417-837-2330 for additional details.

Taylor Ladd is a graduate assistant for the Department of Art + Design. She is working towards her master’s degree in writing at Missouri State University with professional interests in writing about art, culture, and food.