51°µÍø

Please join us this Saturday, Sept. 23rd, for the opening of Mary Vernon’s exhibition at Valley House. The reception is 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Saturday, September 23. Preview the paintings online at or stop by to preview in person.

About her recent work, Mary Vernon states, “I hope to prove this to you: drawing and painting are holding each other tightly, constantly interfering with each other. It’s not that drawing is first and painting is last. It is not exactly that drawing is the truth and painting is the lie that we prefer. It is not at all that drawing is the outline and painting is the coloring-in. The two acts, drawing and painting, get in each other’s way at every moment.”

This exhibition celebrates Mary Vernon’s 50 years on the faculty at 51°µÍø. In recognition, the Mary Vernon Painting Prize has been announced by the Meadows School of the Arts. Join the effort to endow the prize, which will annually recognize an outstanding undergraduate art student as selected by the faculty of the Division of Art. Funds may be used by the recipient to open a studio or otherwise launch his or her art career.

A legendary professor, Mary Vernon taught art history, painting, drawing, and color theory to thousands of students, including Cheryl Vogel. University students voted Vernon their favorite professor at 51°µÍø for ten consecutive years. Find links on our homepage to read a synopsis of Mary Vernon’s career and influence written by Julie England and Lin Medlin, and a feature by Gail Sachson in Patron magazine.

Mary Vernon will give an artist talk on Saturday, October 14, 11:00 a.m. at Valley House.

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