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Married artists unveil “Tidepool” at C of I’s Rosenthal Gallery of Art

October 2, 2018
Eric Mullis and Kelly Cox prepare their exhibit "Tidal Pool" at the Rosenthal Gallery of Art.

For their first major exhibition together since the birth of their son Edwin, Eric Mullis and Kelly Cox are combining their experiences with parenthood along with their experiences with mass media and the outside world.

The married duo, known collaboratively as Mullox Studios, will present an open house for their new exhibit “Tidal Pool” at the Rosenthal Gallery of Art as part of The College of Idaho’s Homecoming weekend starting at 4 p.m. on Oct. 5, a sneak peek in advance of the exhibit’s public opening at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 25. The exhibit utilizes the talents of both Mullis and Cox, including a combination of ceramic art and likenesses of their son as well as digital projection and installation art. The exhibit will be the first of the season for the gallery and will be on display throughout the remainder of the 2018 Fall Semester.

The content of the show will contrast domestic space and parenthood with a public space and discourse currently dominated by a torrent of extremely caustic digital media and public figures,” said Mullis, an adjunct art instructor at the College. “Each of the pieces relates back to this political and social content imagery as experienced from afar, where you feel like you’re experiencing it but not actually experiencing it.”

Mullis and Cox began dating as high schoolers in Wisconsin and both pursued bachelor’s studies in ceramics at the University of Montana, later traveling to Boise, Idaho to each earn their masters in fine arts at Boise State University. Although each of the artists has produced solo exhibits and were actively encouraged to pursue individual projects as MFA students at BSU, Cox said their close personal and artistic relationship makes collaboration ideal.

“I think for me, working as a team feels more natural,” Cox said. “Humans are social animals. I feel like working together the way we do gives our work more meaning.”

“Tidal Pool” is an installation exhibit centered on four major stations, each inspired by unique times of Edwin’s life as well as the current events surrounding the family in those years, including the 2016 United States presidential election and the landfall of Hurricane Maria. Ceramic representations of Edwin during these stages of life are present throughout the exhibit, supplemented by dynamic lighting and projections to create new layers and shadows.

“We didn’t want to create an exhibit that covered the same tracks of parenthood that have been covered before,” Mullis said. “It’s our hope that we’re bringing a fresh look to being parents in a new and engaging way.”

The pair began installing their work at Rosenthal in September, juggling their art with caring for Edwin, who is just starting preschool. Cox said she and Mullis have each worked odd hours to complete their works for the exhibit, sometimes waking early in the morning or sculpting late into the night after Edwin falls asleep.

“There have been times I’ve been able to peek in on Edwin while he’s sleeping so I can check something specific about how he looks,” Cox said. “If I’m thinking ‘How does his ear look?’ it’s as simple as going into his room and taking a picture.”

The exhibit will be open for an open house during C of I’s Homecoming, but will have an official opening for the general public on Oct. 25, which is also set to feature a panel discussion about the exhibit.

For more information about Mullis and Cox’s work, visit https://www.mullox.com/.

The College of Idaho has a 127-year-old legacy of excellence. The C of I is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition and history of producing successful graduates, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.  For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.