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Gerald Donato: Reinventing the Game Opens in Staniar Gallery

“Gerald Donato: Reinventing the Game” opens in Staniar Gallery at Washington and Lee University on Friday, Nov. 9 with a gallery talk and reception at 5:30 p.m. The exhibition, curated by Amy Moorefield, assistant director and curator of collections at VCUarts Anderson Gallery, comes to Staniar Gallery as a cross-section of the major retrospective of the Donato’s work at VCUarts Anderson Gallery last winter.

The catered reception to celebrate the opening of the exhibit will feature an in-gallery lecture by Moorefield and artist Richard Roth, chair of the department of painting and printmaking at VCU. The exhibition will remain on view in Staniar Gallery until Dec. 14.

The public is invited to attend both the opening gallery talk and reception (on Nov. 9) and to visit the exhibit while it is on view.

Gerald Donato’s work is whimsical, ever-changing, and culturally relative, and this selection of work reflects his lengthy and influential career. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and “Gerald Donato: Reinventing the Game” contains work that spans more than thirty years, including paintings, drawings and prints. Rife with iconic, recurring images-such as “Mr. Man,” inspired by Mickey Mouse’s early appearance as Steamboat Willie-the artist’s playfully inventive work combines the visual heritages of popular culture and expressionistic painting.

A Chicago native who received his MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Donato moved to Virginia to teach printing and painting at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) and has continued for 38 years.

He is a central figure of the Richmond arts scene. He has been the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts grants and his work is in many permanent collections including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, the Chrysler Museum, the University of Wisconsin and Loyola University.

Staniar Gallery is dedicated to the exhibition of contemporary and art historical works in all media by regionally, nationally and internationally recognized artists. Its central purposes is to serve as a teaching space, presenting multi-disciplinary topics through art and dialogue. Located on the second floor of Wilson Hall in the Lenfest Center for the Arts on Washington and Lee’s campus, the gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the academic year.

For additional information please call 540-886-8861.