MANTEO, N.C. — College of The Albemarle (COA) will present “Hydrological Landscapes,” a group exhibition featuring Sandra Simonds, Benjamin Murphy, Jessica Mallios and Christina Lorena Weisner, April 1-30 at the COA – Dare Art Gallery.
An opening reception will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. The exhibition and reception are free and open to COA students, employees and the public.
Pictured l to r: Jessica Mallios: Graphite on Paper, Benjamin Murphy: Arctic Ice Minimum Extents, 1980 to 2020
As part of the exhibition, visiting artist Benjamin Murphy will present an artist talk from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1 at COA – Dare, Building A. A virtual attendance option will also be available via Zoom at http://t.ly/zOQ3d. The session is free and open to COA students, employees and the public.
“Hydrological Landscapes” explores the transformation of ice into water through the lens of contemporary art. Following a 2025 expedition to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, the artists draw on firsthand observations of one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth. Working across collage, sculpture, painting, drawing and multimedia, the exhibition reflects on environmental change and the interconnected nature of global systems.
The exhibition brings together distinct artistic approaches grounded in both research and experience. Murphy’s work visualizes glacial retreat through satellite imagery and geomorphic data, while Weisner’s interactive installation invites viewers to engage with a pendulum-based piece that reflects shifts in the Earth’s center of gravity. Mallios and Simonds expand the exhibition through explorations of light, sound, language and material, offering layered perspectives on climate, perception and place.
The exhibition will be on view through Thursday, April 30, with gallery hours Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Presented by COA’s Humanities and Fine Arts Department and sponsored by the Jeanette Jenkins Fund, the exhibition is part of the College’s Spring 2026 programming. Additional events include the “Estuaries” launch party on April 2, which will feature Sandra Simonds as a speaker discussing her work included in the publication, and a wearable art fashion show on May 1.
For more information or media inquiries, contact Tammy W. Sawyer, COA Director of Communications and Marketing, at 252-335-0821 ext. 2420 or [email protected].