January is an exciting month for the arts at Davidson College (a Knight arts grantee). “Davidson Collects: A Celebration of Art & Learning” is the culmination of much work, support and the generosity of many individuals. The jewel of this exhibition is the acquisition of a new Magdalena Abakanowicz outdoor sculpture specially conceived by the artist for the Davidson College campus.

This sculpture is the Polish artist’s first in the Southeast and the fifth in Davidson College’s major onsite sculptural works. The “Group of Ten,” created in 2011 and made of bronze, is quintessential Abakanowicz. Viewers will get to see it inside the William H. Van Every Gallery during this show, but the piece will be permanently installed outdoors in March 2012.

The opening reception is Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m., with a short program led by President Carol Quillen at 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and will be held at the Van Every/Smith Galleries in the Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center.

Davidson College has long been known for its permanent art collection, now numbering more than 3,000 pieces — including many works on paper — representing 500 years of art history. Building on this tradition, it also has a “Campus Sculpture Program,” which acts as an extension of the college’s permanent art collection and further reinforces the focus as a research center by offering students and members of the Davidson community an opportunity to interact with this work.

In addition to the Abakanowicz piece, “Davidson Collects: A Celebration of Art & Learning” is an exhibition highlighting more than 50 new works from Davidson College’s permanent art collection, featuring unique works by Jim Dine, Hans Hofmann and David Hockney.

In the Edward M. Smith Gallery one will find a selection of unique works on paper by the internationally renowned artist Sean Scully. This show serves to complement the display of his “Wall of Light Red Shade” painting hanging in Davidson’s E.H. Little Library.

Finally, it is most fitting for this prestigious institute of higher learning, that this opening night will also commemorate the book launch of “Davidson Collects: 100 Writers Respond to Art.” This is a new 280-page, full-color book, which includes essays by one hundred Davidson students on works from the College’s permanent art collection.

The Van Every/Smith Galleries play a fundamental role in the life of Davidson College. The galleries provide a challenging forum for the presentation, interpretation and discussion of primarily contemporary artworks in all media for students and members of the Davidson community, as well as for national and international visitors to the campus.

“Davidson Collects: A Celebration of Art & Learning” The exhibitions will be on display Jan. 19 through March 2, 2012. Opening reception: Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. Van Every/Smith Galleries in the Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center Davidson College, 315 N. Main St., Davidson, N.C. 28035 GALLERY HOURS: Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekends: Noon to 4 p.m. Guest parking is available in the lot behind the Belk Visual Arts Center. The building is wheelchair accessible. All programs of the Van Every/Smith Galleries are free and everyone is welcome.