GAINESVILLE, FLA.- The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida celebrates creativity, discovery and inquiry through its newest exhibition Divergent Convergence opening March 31. Offered as part of the University of Florida's campus-wide, year-long celebration of invention and creativity, the exhibition investigates how various artists discover and question the past, reinterpret the present, and imagine the future. Divergent Convergence: The Arts of Creativity, Discovery & Inquiry will be on view through July 21, 2019.

The highest levels of creativity require both divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking, whether as an individual or as a collective, encourages the generation of numerous ideas leading to multiple solutions. Convergent thinking promotes the use of information and a set of rules to arrive at one solution to a problem. The exhibition explores the work of more than 55 artists from 18 countries, including their divergent and convergent thinking processes behind the production of the works of art. The wide range of media—from ceramics, light sculpture and film, to paintings, prints and drawings—allows for the convergence of diverse voices and ideas.

“The Harn Museum of Art is a hub of interdisciplinary research and creativity at the University of Florida that encourages innovation,” said Lee Anne Chesterfield, Harn Museum of Art Director. “We are pleased to exhibit these works of art that honor the creative and innovative minds of artists in the museum’s permanent collection.”

The Harn will provide multiple ways for visitors to interact with the art on view. These opportunities include viewing performances and participating in activities developed by the Gator VR (Virtual Reality) Club, UF Professor Dr. Elif Akçalı, and the Harn “Creatives-in-Residence”—Choreographer-in-Residence, Composer-in-Residence, and Poet-in-Residence. These programs, developed through a collaboration of museum educators and curatorial staff, with University of Florida faculty and students, provide new artistic experiences for both the creators and viewers.

“We researched the Harn’s collections to provide excellent examples of divergent and convergent thinking,” said Jason Steuber, Harn Cofrin Curator of Asian Art. “Alongside extraordinary selections from the museum’s permanent holdings, the exhibition exudes the spirit of inquiry and creativity through public programming collaborations with UF students and faculty.”