The Sawhill Memorial Gallery stands in memory to the original Sawhill Gallery, which stood just steps away, and to the directors who oversaw its programming.
The wood-lined walls mimic those that lined the old gallery's walls; its accessible location is an homage to Stuart Downs and Gary Freeburg, who played major roles in elevating the visibility of the arts within the School of Art, Design and Art History and throughout the JMU campus. This humble nod affirms SADAH as a place of vital discussion in the visual and all that the visual asks of us.
Current Exhibition
Shaped by Object - An exhibition of furniture and everyday objects
June 15–July 10, 2026
Grace Street Gallery and Sawhill Memorial Gallery
Duke Hall
The exhibition explores the relationship between people and the objects that shape daily life. Through individual approaches to material, aesthetics, and function, the participating artists examine how small decisions become embedded in everyday objects, and how those objects, in turn, influence our habits, routines, and experiences.
Views and positions expressed in exhibitions are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of the university.
