Fairfield University’s Walsh Art Gallery presents its new exhibition, “DANCE: Marc Mellon, Jane Sutherland, Philip Trager,” on view from Friday, September 18, 2015, through Friday, January 15, 2016. An opening reception, free and open to the public, will take place at the Quick Center for the Arts on Thursday, September 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. This opening event will also include two one-half hour sneak-peak performances of a work in progress by Adele Myers and Dancers.

“DANCE” examines the rich relationship between these “sister arts” through the eyes of three gifted practitioners: sculptor Marc Mellon, painter Jane Sutherland, and photographer Philip Trager. Each of these artists has had a distinguished career, with numerous notable exhibitions across the country and works of art held in public as well as private collections, both in the U.S. and abroad. Though their expressive “languages” may differ, they all bring a keen eye, cutting intellect, and talented hand to their oeuvres, creating visual tours de force for their audiences to enjoy. Visitors to this show will relish the unique opportunity to see Mellon’s classically inspired life-size bronze sculptures of dancers juxtaposed with Sutherland’s intriguing Little Dancer paintings, a series directly inspired by Edgar Degas’ great work of this same name. Trager’s silver gelatin and platinum prints of dancers – whether airborne or with bodies quieted into astoundingly expressive postures – round out this extraordinary triumvirate, whose works delight the eye as much as they do the mind and the spirit.

Admission to the Walsh Art Gallery is always free. Hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the University is in session, and one hour before Quick Center performances (WAG is open on select Saturdays; see website calendar for details).