1930 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
USA
Memphis College of Art Announces Jeffrey Hodges’ Primal Rituals in Alumni Gallery
MEMPHIS, Tenn.— Memphis College of Art (MCA) announces Primal Rituals by Jeffrey Hodges, on view Aug. 15–Sept. 30 in the Rust Hall Alumni Gallery, 1930 Poplar Ave., Overton Park. A special reception jointly celebrating the works of Primal Rituals, as well as Horn Island 32 in the Rust Hall Main Gallery, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Primal Rituals features large-scale pointillism paintings that reveal the primitive rituals and ethereal experiences of modern game keeping as an anecdote of the spirit. Hodges developed a fascination with wild game and hunting at a young age as a result of his father’s involvement in wildlife management and conservation. “The spiritual kinship shared between living creatures is transitory and poignant,” said Hodges. “The paintings function as manifestations of the intangible components of hunting. They are viewed as shamanic mediums that express these dynamic experiences, which define me as an artist and human.”
Hodges was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from MCA in Painting in 2011, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of South Carolina in 2014. As part of his graduate studies, Hodges earned a scholarship in 2013 to study abroad at the International Centre for the Arts in Umbria, Italy, where his work was later featured in a group exhibition. Hodges has had solo exhibitions and been featured as a guest lecturer at numerous colleges, including the Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi, the Vickers Fine Art Gallery at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., and the Marie Hull Gallery at Hinds Community College in Jackson, Miss. Hodges taught painting at the University of South Carolina prior to coming to East Central Community College, where he is currently the Lead Instructor for Visual and Art History.
Gallery hours for Primal Rituals are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and Sunday noon–4 p.m. All MCA exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. For more information about current and upcoming exhibitions, visit mca.edu.
Photo: Jeffrey Hodges, “Life Transitions,” [detail] oil on panel, 72” x 60”, 2012