Virginia Kistler’s Untitled sculpture consisting of hanging steel spheres and LED lights. Kistler’s piece is featured in Morris Hall’s second floor gallery. (Andrew Barren’22/Media)

Academy’s Upper School Art Department held an opening reception for the French Leave Collective on Friday, February 1, from 6-8 pm in Morris Hall’s gallery. Photography and graphic design teacher, Ms. Tursich, is a key part of bringing together the featured artists and their works to this exhibit.

Tursich and several of her colleagues from Columbus College of Art and Design’s MFA program founded this ongoing project. Sixteen members meet every six weeks to see each other’s works in progress and get new ideas.

The French Leave Collectivein includes drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, glass, and more. Several interactive works, such as a picture book titled Ghastley, Ohio; a card game; and a “touch table,” which has drapes of different materials woven and knit together add to other substantial works.

Visitors can learn more about each individual artist by perusing a binder that contains each of their biographies and information about their work at the gallery’s entrance.