TCU’s newest acquisition is an import.Gavin Morrison, originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, has been hired as curator for the College of Fine Arts’ new off-campus gallery that will be housed in the old Perrotti’s Pizza location at the corner of West Berry Street and Greene Avenue.
Morrison was living in south France when, three months ago, he was contacted by a former colleague in Houston about the curatorial position at TCU.
“What I liked about the position was that everything was fresh,” Morrison said. “I can establish the structure and program.”
Morrison has previously worked at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and said he sees similarities between Texans and Scots.
“Both have this entrepreneurial and explorative zeal,” Morrison said.
Morrison said he has been in Fort Worth six days but is excited about his new position.
“It is very much about the possibilities,” Morrison said.
The gallery, still in the planning process, will occupy the spaces where Perrotti’s Pizza and Outer Image were, said Scott Sullivan, dean of the College of Fine Arts.
The College of Fine Arts was awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant through the Vision In Action initiative to fund the remodeling of the university-owned buildings and pay for certain salaries and materials, said Ron Watson, the art department chairman.
The gallery will exhibit art from faculty, students and other local artists as well as serve as a lab for art students.
The gallery has not been named, but Watson said the department is hoping to open it in February.
One of the advantages the new gallery will have over the Moudy Building North gallery is the availability of parking and visibility from the street, Watson said.
Cameron Schoepp, a professor in the fine arts department, said the new gallery will be a great recruiting tool for the university.
“Bringing the best students in the program requires us to be very visible to the community and art world,” Schoepp said.
Admission will be free for everyone.
“It will be easy for students to duck in and duck out,” Sullivan said.
