JIMMY KELLER
Staff Writer
You and I are essential to art.
Declaring a piece as art relies on us.
With our involvement in experiencing it, the piece that was merely an object advances into artwork.
At midnight, when an art gallery is resting behind locked doors, the objects inside only exist as things layered onto a wall. But at noon the following day, when the lights get switched on, the art is reborn the moment someone lays eyes on it. Each new smile, tear, clenched jaw or curiously furrowed eyebrow that experiences the work is what constantly makes the art come to life.
The Marion Art Gallery facilitates a space that provides a community of people with one thing in common: they are all driven towards the intrigue that art bleeds. Artists, students, local community and devoted travelers come together in this gallery, transforming objects into dialogues surrounding creativity.
January 23 was the first day of the exhibition Is Anything the Matter? Drawings by Laylah Ali, in the Marion Art Gallery.
Laylah Ali is a Buffalo native and is highlighted by the highly selective ART 21 organization. Her work has been shown and collected by MoMa, MASS MoCa, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, and now, the Marion Art Gallery.
While most read about Ali and learn her work through art history classes, it is an extraordinary and rewarding opportunity for our community to have her be a part of the SUNY Fredonia campus. The exhibition is on display until April 14.
Some of Ali’s work takes a traditional approach to drawing in her large black-and-white ink drawings as in her “Typology Series”, mimicking patterns of history and convention.
Other pieces push the traditional constrictions into unbound thoughts presenting themselves as artistic expressions, almost in a childlike way. The lines throw themselves from the confines of the paper and weave through the audience’s mind like a half-sarcastic, half poetic relay. In works such as her “Studies Series”, Ali shares her mind and makes visible the intuitional creative process.
In all pieces though, Ali’s directness of influences surrounding sex, race, power and politics prevail in a way that contrasts conveniently with the traditional.
Li Seagren, a drawing and painting major, had a chance to speak with Ali during the reception. Seagren later reflected on Ali’s work, saying, “I obviously felt she’s careless about others opinions and just let her intuition lead her.” Whether that is true or not can only be answered by Ali, but the confidence she throws into her work is clear.
Vulnerability leads to powerful artwork. I, like many other artists including Seagren, understand the importance yet the intimidation that goes along with making confidently truthful art.
Seagren recalled after her conversation with the artist, “Ali strongly encouraged me to go after my own life experience and observations and put those thoughts into my art.”
This 30 years of Laylah Ali’s artwork displays truth, life and confidence.
The Marion Art Gallery supplies an irreplaceable opportunity for university life and the surrounding Fredonia community.
Seagren said, “I know the Marion Gallery has always tried to introduce us to all different types of art. It’s a small gallery but it plays a big impact in our art community’s life.”
When a young artist visits the gallery and looks up to Ali’s work, they view a dream being pursued. When a student has a conversation with an internationally known artist, they realize their unique story is worthy of being shared with the world.
As soon as the gallery light halos onto the object we label as art, the only shadow left to conquer is in our minds.