Self Portrait

Abstract

Drawing in pencil on paper shows a seated woman wearing a black turtleneck and pants. Her hands are in her lap. The bottom left corner is signed "B. Gilow." The drawing is taped into a gray mat. The back of the drawing is marked in pencil " "Gretchen" / Betty Gilow, 1979." The accession number from the art card is 89.80. Artist biography: Betty Gilow was hired as a part-time Instructor of Art for the 1981-82 academic year at Rhodes College. She held a B.F.A from the Memphis Academy of Art. Her responsibilities included the teaching of five classes during Terms I (2), II (2), and III (1). She retired from Rhodes in the spring of 1994. She presented her work on two separate occasions in the Clough-Hanson Gallery: once in 1981 (November 4-December 4) with her paintings and drawings, and again in 1991 (November 10-December 10) at an exhibition entitled Color Sense. The Rhodes College Faculty and Alumni Exhibit "Looking Back" held in 1998, showcased Gilow's work alongside Lawrence Anthony, Kara Babin, Valerie Berlin, Peter Bowman, Carol DeForest, Biff Elrod, Katherine Gore, Murray Riss, and Anne Woodson, among others. In addition to her work with the College, her most celebrated works are the 15 panels of a giant depiction of the "Tennessee Heritage Mural," begun by her former teacher, the late Edward "Ted" Faiers. The mural was completed in 1987 after two years of challenging work. The 51-panel mural consists of Memphis and Tennessee geography and personalities. When it was first completed, it hung in the large banking room of First Tennessee Bank in downtown Memphis. Her task was to complete the mural originally intended for Faiers. While Faiers gave a great start to the mural with his 36 panels, Gilow completed the project with her additional 15. Professor Gilow was chosen by the curator of First Tennessee, Alice Bingham, following recommendations by Professor Lon Anthony, Chair of the Art Department at Rhodes College, as the artist who would contribute her own skill to the large, puzzle-like mural without competing too intensely with Faiers' finished work. Gilow was also named juror for the 21st Annual Junior Mid-South Exhibition in December of 1985 for the upcoming March exhibition, as well as a judge for the 1993 Junior Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards.