LYDIA TURCIOS
Art Director
An exhibition of show-stopping student work has been on display in the Marion Art Gallery since Jan. 28 and will continue to run until Feb. 13. The days are ticking by, but there’s still enough time to see for yourself what the Visual Arts and New Media (VANM) department has chosen to represent itself.
Chosen by a diverse jury of faculty, the show is made of both students and recent graduates’ work and paints a picture of an impassioned and creative collection of peers. From the sculptural work on the floor to the 2D and multimedia pieces on the wall, there’s a little piece of an artist’s mind to pick apart and appreciate.
With so many pieces — 122 in total — it’s tempting to interview every last entrant, but instead here we have two artists who were reached for comment.
Angeline Ginsberg is a fourth year ceramics major. Her piece “Wavelength” is a gift to her father, a lover of the beach and fishing. It is a small wooden piece made out of maple and walnut, meant to mimic the flow of waves.
“Honestly, I just wish we had these showcases more often,” said Ginsberg, who felt the showcase was an excellent display of the VANM departments capability, “I think this department has a lot to be proud of and it’s a great opportunity for students at any stage in their college career to take part in a professional group show. I think it’s really validating for students to see their work in this exhibition.”
“Wavelength” had been Ginsberg’s first foray into several types of tools and machines, and she’d been happy with the learning process. “The exhibition showed off a lot of the different materials we use and what exactly can be done with those materials. We use a lot of recycled or second hand materials.” These materials included cardboard, plastics, wire and even donated wood from El Greco furniture in Jamestown that was deemed imperfect. “This allows for less waste while still creating a portfolio or show worthy pieces.”
Former student Gabriella Rose M. had work from her time at Fredonia chosen to be put on display, titled “Fantasist,” an ethereal wire fox sculpture. “I feel the inclusion of students not actively enrolled but still representative of the instruction that took place within the department is commendable,” Rose M. said.
“I think it’s somewhat fitting poetically that, despite my inability to return to SUNY Fredonia as a student, this piece would be the impression I leave at SUNY Fredonia,” Rose M. added, who as of yet lacks the resources to re-enroll. “Much like the fox is just a wireframe — a form made from the bare minimum — so am I an artist. Yet both have a powerful impact if given the right space to do so.”