‘Spark’ to showcase APSU Art + Design faculty’s work Aug. 25-Oct. 2
By: Dr. Andrea Spofford August 19, 2026
APSU’s Spark: Faculty Triennial Exhibition 2026 will showcase works from a variety of disciplines and feature gallery talks with several of the participating artists.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Austin Peay State University’s Department of Art + Design, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is displaying Spark: Faculty Triennial Exhibition 2026, from Aug. 25-Oct. 2. An opening reception will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in The New Gallery. This event is free and open to the public.
In conjunction with this exhibition, The New Gallery is hosting the following gallery talks:
Thursday, Sept. 10
6-7 p.m.
Rachel Bush, Barry Jones, Patrick Vincent, Paul Collins, Luke Warren, and Dr. Tamara Smithers
Thursday, Sept.17
6-7 p.m.
Yun Shin, Amanda Morgado, Patrick Gosnell, Scott Raymond, Billy Renkl, and McLean Fahnestock
Thursday, Sept. 24
6-7 p.m.
Tabitha Sweitzer, Laicee Blackwell, Joe Nivens, Nicki Davis, and Jaroslava Prihodova
“Kilmar Defense” (2025), a sketch by APSU professor Paul Collins using colored pencils and marker on paper. Collins served as the courtroom sketch artist for Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s court proceedings. | Contributed photo
In addition to these gallery talks, a screening of the 2022 documentary Zkouška umění (Art Talent Show) will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct.1, in Art + Design Room 120. The New Gallery will also be open during Clarksville’s ArtWalk on Thursday, Sept. 3 and Thursday, Oct. 1.
“The Art + Design Faculty Triennial offers the campus community and visitors an opportunity to engage with ideas across a diverse range of disciplines,” The New Gallery Director Jaroslava Prihodova said. "[This includes] art history research, ceramics, drawing, graphic design, illustration, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles.”
“Rust Box No.1” (2026), created by APSU adjunct professor Britt Stadig using handmade paper, cloth, leather, and binder. Stadig is a mixed-media artist and bookbinder who specializes in custom book editions and enclosures. | Contributed photo
Participating artists include: Amir Agharebparast, Laicee Blackwell, Rachel Bush, Paul Collins, Nicki Davis, McLean Fahnestock, Jessica Fife, Patrick Gosnell, Emilie Gill, Angie Hernandez-Scoggins, Barry Jones, Hannah Mathis, Amanda Morgado, Joe Nivens, Michael Poindexter, Jaroslava Prihodova, Scott Raymond, Billy Renkl, Yun Shin, Gena Shire-Sgarlata, Tamara Smithers, Britt Stadig, Tabitha Switzer, Patrick Vincent, Luke Warren, Dixie Webb, and Ripley Whiteside.
The New Gallery is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and follows APSU’s academic calendar. For more information, contact Jaroslava Prihodova at prihodovaj@apsu.edu.
About the Department of Art + Design
Established in 1927, the Department of Art + Design is one of the original departments at Austin Peay State University. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the department offers studies in animation, art education, art history, ceramics, drawing, digital media, graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The department is housed in the College of Arts and Letters and consists of 19 full-time faculty for approximately 350 students. Three on-campus galleries also support the art and design programs. In 2017, the department moved into a state-of-the-art building. The Department of Art + Design also houses the Goldsmith Press and Rare Type Collection, a remarkable collection of antique and vintage wooden letterforms. To learn more about the department, contact Scott Raymond, department chair, at raymonds@apsu.edu.
About the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts
Since 1985, the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA, or "seek-ah") has been providing students, the Clarksville community, and the Middle Tennessee region with engaging experiences through the Art + Design, Creative Writing, Music, and Theatre & Dance programs at APSU. CECA brings as many as 85 guest artists to Clarksville each year and presents up to 100 public arts and culture events annually, including concerts, exhibitions, artist lectures, master classes, artist residencies, and more. In addition, CECA provides the arts faculty at APSU with research opportunities to enhance their professional growth as well as numerous student scholarships each year to support APSU's own emerging artists. To learn more about the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts at APSU, contact Dr. Andrea Spofford at spofforda@apsu.edu.