Arts and Entertainment

Exhibition showcases 'Rocks, Minerals and the History of Art' Oct. 1-6

The exhibition will showcase the research and materials for a new course that investigates a select group of rocks and minerals used in the production of art between the Prehistoric Era and Early Modern period. Credit: Heather McCune BruhnAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An exhibition in the Borland Project Space, 125 Borland Building, on Oct. 1-6 will showcase the research and materials for a new course that investigates a select group of rocks and minerals used in the production of art between the Prehistoric Era and Early Modern period.

“Rocks, Minerals, and the History of Art” (Art H 107/Geosci 107), is a new interdomain course developed by Assistant Teaching Professor of Art History Heather McCune Bruhn and Associate Research Professor of Geosciences Maureen Feineman. The course will make its online debut in spring 2019, and will focus on materials’ chemical and physical properties; their occurrence in nature; the ways in which they are acquired; and specific works in which they are found. 

During the exhibition, visitors may examine samples of each material, read about their properties and key works made from them, and manipulate them using the techniques of artists throughout history. 

On Thursday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 3 p.m., McCune Bruhn will lead a discussion and demonstration in which visitors will explore additional techniques and handle rare samples of rocks and minerals.

On Saturday, Oct. 6, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., a closing reception will be held in collaboration with the "Bugs, Boulders, Beakers: The Materiality of Artists’ Colors Symposium," to be held in the Borland Building from Oct. 5–6.

Last Updated October 1, 2018