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Visiting Artist Cathy Gendron is a segue to the field of art

MCCC art students will have the opportunity to meet a new mentor by attending the visiting artist events. 

Cathy Gendron will be on campus as a visiting artist Monday, Oct. 18 to share her expertise and experience in her field of professional illustration.  

She has a background of illustrating in the professional world for newspapers, magazines and books. 

All of the events will be free and extended to the public. 

 Gendron will be giving a live demonstration on Monday morning October 18 between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. It will be located in the Founders Hall in room F117. 

“It is so valuable for the visiting artists to come because it’s a segway for students to see a working artist,” said Therese O’Halloran, professor of Art.

Students and the public are able to come and go during the demonstration.

Later that evening, Gendron will give a lecture. It will be from 6 to 8 p.m.in the La-Z-Boy Center atrium. 

“Gendron was scheduled to visit before covid, so it has been a long haul,” O’Halloran said. “I am glad to offer this crucial opportunity to students again.”

Many of MCCC’s art students attend the visiting artist functions for the opportunity to gain technique tips and career direction. 

“I have a couple of students in my class that really want to go into the field she’s gone into but don’t know how to get there or how to figure out what’s involved,” O’Halloran said. “This gives them a connection to talk to somebody like that in the field.”

Cathy Gendron will be visiting campus on Monday October 18 share her expertise to students starting out in the art field. (Photo courtesy of Cathy Gendron)

She said the visiting artists are a crucial lifeline to the art department and MCCC’s art collection.

Gendron’s work is available as a virtual gallery on the MCCC website

“Her work is outstanding,” O’Halloran said.

Included in MCCC’s library collection are two of the books Cathy Gendron has illustrated, O’Halloran. Due to library renovations, the books are currently in storage.

As part of the Visiting Artist Contract, one of Gendron’s original works will remain with the college as part of MCCC’s art collection. 

The newly acquired composition will be displayed in the F building for a month, said O’Halloran.