By Kelsey Curtis ('27)
This October, Houghton’s Ortlip Art Gallery will host a retrospective exhibition of art by Professor John Rhett. The exhibition, titled “Self-Evaluation”, will open on Friday, Oct. 27, starting at 6 p.m., and feature a gallery talk with Rhett at 7 p.m. The reception will also offer an opportunity for students to earn Around the Table credit for their attendance. The exhibition will share select works from Rhett spanning nearly five decades in art.
Gallery Director, Professor Linda Knapp expressed her excitement for the show, praising Rhett as “such a gifted painter.” Knapp shares her love of Rhett’s perspectives illustrated in his paintings with Rhett’s long-time coworker and friend, Professor Ted Murphy.
Murphy says he looks forward to seeing the progression of Rhett’s art and that it is valuable for students “to appreciate a painter’s evolution in skill, depth of ideas, experimentation, and maturity.”
Commenting on Rhett’s eye for subject matter, Murphy appreciates how he “paints the ordinary, banal landscape but finds great beauty in the edges and margins—parking lots, street lights, and roadway intersections.”
Professor Rhett’s process of painting these ordinary landscapes contributes to their beauty as well. For many of his works, Rhett travels and paints what he sees, making an adventure out of his process. He says it forces him to “sit there and work until it is done.”
Murphy and Knapp expressed their gratitude for Rhett’s presence at Houghton and appreciate his contributions to the university.
Professor Rhett finds both professional and personal benefits in his exhibit. Rhett acknowledges that it celebrates his milestone of over 25 years with Houghton, and gives him a chance to reflect on his numerous years in art. Rhett says that although it was an “odd feeling to look back” it was valuable to see how he had progressed over his career.
He explained that looking back has helped him consider his failures and learn to move beyond pieces he hadn’t finished. Mentioning a river study he had done, Rhett realized even though he felt frustrated while painting it, he discovered the value of his work when he saw it apart from his reference. He found this as an example of, “getting out of your own way” and still being able to make something worthwhile.
Rhett drew attention to a set of smaller ink paintings he had done from photos. He recalls enjoying them and said, “Boy, I wish I could paint like that!” Even in his critical appraisal of many of his works, he is still able to appreciate successful moments in his creations.
Rhett will show work that has previously never been seen on display, as well as work from faculty shows over the years. He views his exhibition as a way to show more than just the curiosity and craft of a local art teacher. He believes that artists even in the smallest of communities, like Houghton, have the same integrity and skill as those found in large cities and the exhibition will mirror this idea.
“Self-Evaluation” will be in the Ortlip Gallery until Dec. 15, open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ★