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KRISTOFER HARRIS
Staff Writer
No matter what medium it is presented in, art has the capacity to impact an individual in several ways. One of the best things art can do, however, is inspire. Inspiration is what came to many as the Cathy and Jesse Marion Art Gallery debuted the first major exhibit of the semester, Kahn & Selesnick: “Truppe Fledermaus and the Carnival at the End of the World.”
Composed between 2012 to 2015, the collection is a mixture of humor and dystopia. On several different mediums one can find the distortion of the human form. For example, there is a photo of a person with an animal head and another painting of a body comprised entirely of fish.
One of the highlights of the exhibit is a piece seen almost instantly when entering the gallery. It is a trio of prints with human-like figures covered in different items. Another interesting installation was another trio, this time displaying three human bodies submerged in water and flora, continuing with the idea of altering the human body.
The duo of Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick, who have known each other since studying together at Washington University in St. Louis, have had their art featured in several esteemed galleries including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution. In addition, they have had their art featured in several publications and have lectured at several institutions.
The exhibit is part of the Visiting Artist Program (VAP) sponsored by the Department of Visual Arts and New Media. With this program, artists give their insight on their art and the world around them, hopefully inspiring students, faculty and community members alike.
Phil Hansen, a junior visual arts and new media major, was moved by the pieces showing the success of the VAP.
“The first thing that stood out to me from these guys’ work when I walked in here was the focus on the human form, which is something that I’m really interested in … incorporating into my own work. [The human form] is such a relatable form; it’s what we are. There is so much you can express with it and [you] can do so many different things with it, but there is always that familiarity.
A presentation will be given by Kahn and Selesnick on Thursday, Sept. 15 in McEwen Hall at 8:30 p.m., along with an Art and Business Luncheon at noon on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Technology Incubator.
For some, admiration for the art comes from what the actual artist is willing to go through for their work.
“I started climbing in the Adirondacks when I was 53 years old. I’ve done some rock climbing, and I have completed all 46 of the high peaks of the Adirondacks. I really feel that this is real art. This particular pose is so essential to what he is doing and his grasp is tender. I enjoy this piece,” said community member Wally Latimer on piece which a had a person in a compromising position on a mountain.
Katie Lawrence, a student currently studying at JCC, was drawn to the dark surrealism the art conveyed.
“[The exhibit], it’s a certain flavor of strange that meshes nicely with Lovecraft’s aesthetic. It makes me think of how I see the world when my eyes are closed,” she said.
Lawrence was referring to the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, an American author known for his work in horror fiction.
Lawrence also added, “I think one of the interesting aspects that I’m definitely feeling from this exhibit is art allows for a representation of the world that is more based off of feeling than matter.”
The exhibit will continue to be featured in the Marion Art Gallery through Nov. 18.