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Rosenthal Gallery "Brazen Bull" exhibit to hold receptions in April

March 30, 2018
Artwork from Bryan Anthony Moore's "Brazen Bull"

Last January, Boise-based artist Bryan Anthony Moore took up residence at The College of Idaho’s Rosenthal Gallery of Art to begin work on a unique combination of installation and performance. With his exhibit nearing its completion date, the public is invited to visit two upcoming receptions this April to discuss and analyze his politically inspired Brazen Bull: A Natural Mythstory of North America.

The Rosenthal Gallery will host a reception and gallery discussion from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3. Featured speakers for the scheduled discussion at 5 p.m. include C of I Political Economy Professor Jasper LiCalzi, Political Economy Assistant Professor Erin Hern and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Douglass.

A closing reception marking the end of Moore’s time as a C of I artist in residence will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 14.

Moore’s exhibit, which combines inspirations from influential American figures alongside exhibits directly from the College’s Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History, has produced politically charged portraits drawn and painted directly on the gallery’s Tyvek-covered walls. When Moore began his project upon his arrival in January, he said his work functions as a commentary and satire on the subjectivity of history and the evolution of nostalgia into myth.

“The nationalist history about your own country is very seldom taught in an objective manner,” Moore said. “Both natural history and nationalist history have this sort of mythical time they exist in. If we talk about something that happened last week, we’re probably on the same page. But if you go back into really deep time, there’s this sort of national mythos, where you can make it whatever you want it to be because it was such a different period.”

Moore’s exhibit was recently featured in Boise Weekly, described by reporter Lex Nelson as “a bold stroke” and “impossible to ignore.”

“Bryan is warm, articulate, well-informed, and funny,” said C of I Art Professor and Rosenthal Gallery Director Garth Claassen. “He is a highly skilled draftsman, especially adept at the use of brush and ink, a very demanding technique.”

Each upcoming reception is free to attend and is open to the public. The community is also invited to view the gallery during its open hours from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Monday-Friday. As he has throughout his stay, Moore may be found working on the exhibit during the gallery’s open hours on Thursdays and Fridays. Moore invites the public to drop in during his working hours to aid him in his creative process.

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, four NFL players 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.