Published on February 22, 2017 by Ashley Smith  
Sara Cannon

Samford Art Gallery’s yearlong alumni retrospective concludes with an exhibit featuring the mixed media work of Sara Cannon, a 2005 fine-arts Samford graduate. Her work is on display March 1–24 with an opening reception on March 1, 4–6 p.m.

Cannon said she is “excited to be able to come back and open a solo show of my work at my alma mater. This show includes many new 2017 works as well as a sampling of my earlier pieces.”

Cannon graduated Samford with an undergraduate degree in fine arts, concentrating in graphic design. Her work is largely influenced by visually stimulating geometric patterns with bright imagery. She also loves exploring the cross between organic shapes and geometry.

“Samford’s art program really helped me hone my skills and techniques as an artist. I loved how I was encouraged toward both experimentation and excellence. The education I received is truly the building block for where I am now in my career,” said Cannon.

Not only is Cannon an artist, she is also an entrepreneur and creative director. She is the managing partner and creative director at Range, an agency that specializes in design and WordPress development. She is also the founder of Spruce Media LLC, the main developer behind the app Spruce Planner. 

“Samford’s challenging design program is just what I needed to get a leg up in a competitive career,” said Cannon. “Upon graduating, I had the skills of someone with 2–3 more years of experience than a lot of people my age.”

According to Robin Snyder, Art Gallery director, “This year’s exhibitions have been very rewarding. From Mary Ann Culotta’s Past to Present show, Cliff Bell’s exceptional fine-art photography, Michael Williams’ exquisite drawings on antique ledger paper to our final alum show of Sara Cannon’s mixed media art, they all have been outstanding. They have given the professors in the art and design department great pride in seeing what our former students have accomplished. Hosting this group of talented artists and former students has been a very fulfilling way for me to end my tenure at Samford.”

The Samford Art Gallery is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and is located in Swearingen Hall. Admission is free.

Ashley Smith is marketing and communication coordinator for Samford Arts. 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.