ABIGAIL JACOBSON
Staff Writer
Realms Beyond 317 Poster | Provided by Events @ Fredonia
Stepping into Emmitt Christian Gallery, you are met with pieces of artwork that tell a story.
“As the viewer travels through the room from the left to the right, they are slowly transported from ordinary earthly scenes to realms beyond this world,” says the curator’s statement.
These scenes include pieces ranging from valleys in the wilderness to a close up of someone’s eyes.
Realms Beyond 317 is a student art gallery show composed by 11 students. Eight are current students at SUNY Fredonia and three are alumni. This gallery is open to the public and will run until September 6.
Elizabeth Thida Htway, a senior majoring in drawing and painting along with a minor in history, is the creator of this show.
Htway participated in a student show in 2021 at the Marion Art Gallery and two other student shows at Emmitt Christian Gallery.
Realms Beyond 317 is her first show that she has curated.
“All the works included are from upper level drawing and painting classes, including Drawing and Painting I, II, III, IV, Directed Studio and Independent Studio,” said Htway.
Htway included one of her own pieces, “My Eyes.”
“‘My Eyes’ makes me see my face in a light less self-centered and less self-critical,” said Htway. “‘My Eyes’ is part of a series that also includes portraits of my mother and landscapes of places I visited with my family, [which reminds me] of those memories.”
Htway’s piece is a part of an eight painting series titled “Reciprocation.” This series took about three months to complete.
When asked how Htway thinks her audience would react to her piece, she imagined herself as part of the audience.
“I’ll probably think it’s about self-acceptance since it is a close-up portrait that shows facial blemishes and discoloration,” said Htway. “Or maybe anxiety because it’s so uncomfortably close. I would definitely feel uncomfortable if I were that close to someone in real life.”
Htway hopes the outcome of this gallery is more collaboration within majors. She mentions her own experience working with others.
“It’ll show how our work influences each other because — from my personal experience — that is what happens when you work with the same group of people for the whole semester,” she said.
Htway wanted to give special thanks to a few people:
“I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me with the exhibition including my fellow students, faculty members and staff, especially the Emmitt Christian gallery coordinators Tim Frerichs and Peter Tucker,” said Htway.
Realms Beyond 317 will be showcased at the Emmitt Christian Gallery until September 6.