Photo courtesy of: Women of Appalachia(L-R): First lady Ruthie Nellis, President M. Duane Nellis, Kari Gunter-Seymour and Winsome Chunnu share a moment during the opening reception on Friday, Feb. 2.

On Friday, Ohio University President M. Duane and first lady Ruthie Nellis made a surprise visit to the opening reception for the Women of Appalachia Project’s ninth annual Fine Art Exhibition in the Multicultural Center Art Gallery on the Baker University Center second floor.

Founder/curator Kari Gunter-Seymour explained that Ohio University’s Multicultural Center Art Gallery has hosted WOAP since its inception in 2009. The project has grown over the years, getting its start with five fine art and four spoken word artists from Athens County to currently showcasing 66 artists from nine states.

“The Ohio University Multicultural Center is proud to have hosted the “Women of Appalachia Project” events – the fine art and spoken word presentations – every year since its beginning,” says Winsome Chunnu, strategic director for Diversity and Inclusion and Multicultural Programs and Initiatives. “The spirit of WOAP, the passion to showcase the visual and spoken art of Appalachian women, teaches us all that we must look at the whole woman – beyond the superficial factors society uses to judge her.”

Photo courtesy of: Women of AppalachiaPresident M. Duane Nellis made time to visit the Multicultural Center Art Gallery.