Four exhibitions on campus this fall showcase a variety of work, from that of two talented and pioneering African-American artists and educators to a dual exhibit of photography to a display of pieces by UD faculty. The Department of Art also is sponsoring a lecture series.

“Hale Woodruff, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet and the Academy,” which runs through Dec. 9 in Mechanical Hall, highlights the lives and accomplishments of two artist-educators who challenged and transformed the existing academic structure and offerings for African Americans. In addition to being fine artists, they established art programs in the Atlanta University Center in the 1930s and, despite segregation, created one of the premier institutions for art instruction for African Americans.

The show has traveled to UD from Spelman College in Atlanta, where it was curated by Andrea Barnwell Brownlee and Amalia K. Amaki.

Opening Oct. 12 and continuing through Dec. 9 in the University Gallery of Old College are two exhibitions titled “Focus on Photography.” An opening preview will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 11.

One of the exhibits, “Bill Brandt: Shadow of Light,” consists of 67 vintage photographs by Brandt (1904-83), a master of modern British photography known for his high-contrast photos of British society and abstracted images of nudes. Brandt’s work, spanning half a century, includes a series of London street scenes at night and intriguing portraits of Dylan Thomas and Francis Bacon.

The second photo exhibition features major gifts that were donated to the University in 2006, augmenting its collections of 19th- and 20th-century photographs. These important works include photos by Josef Sudek, Leon Levinstein, Ansel Adams and Thomas Eakins.

Also, works in numerous media by 19 members of the UD art faculty explore surprising new trends in contemporary art. “Current Concerns: Recent Works by Art Faculty” is open through Oct. 3 in the Old College gallery.

The University Museums galleries are open 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesdays; and 1-4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. They are closed on Mondays and University holidays. Admission is free. For more information, visit the web site [www.udel.edu/museums] or
call (302) 831-8037.

Three lectures in the series “Curating Contemporary Culture” will be held beginning Oct. 2 with a talk by Laura Heon, director and curator of the contemporary art museum Site Santa Fe. An Oct. 30 lecture will feature internationally known curator, critic and writer Ivo Mesquita, and the Dec. 4 talk will be given by Hou Hanru, the San Francisco Art Institute’s director of exhibitions and public programs.