For our last Gallery Guide trip we took a trip to the Tang Gallery on Skidmore College's campus. The show that I enjoyed the most was on the upper level of the building and it included work from four alumni of varying years of graduation. Courtney Mattison is a 2008 graduate that had ceramic pieces that really caught my attention. Ceramics is one of my favorite mediums to work in and I was really impressed when I saw her "Hope Spots" collection.
I think that Courtney did an amazing job at capturing the mood and look of an underwater scene. She used organic forms to recreate objects that might be found in nature, specifically in a nautical setting. Her work is inspired by her love of marine biology. She shows her knowledge of the sea through her complex forms of coral and its characteristics. She not only shows snip-its of healthy and flourishing ecosystems in her work, but ones that are less than lively. I think that this contrast makes an important statement about the environment as well as the beauty of each piece, and how the definition of beauty can change. Her goal through these pieces is to inform and hopefully educate people about how humans have a greater effect on all parts of the world than we may be aware of.
The piece above was created by James Esber and it is titled "Bouquet", it is meant to represent a familiar picture that says something about American culture. He is testing the ways in which the brain is able to perceive things and how the eyes can sometimes be deceived. In his work he makes a point to emphasize how plastic-like the material that he is working with really is. I wasn't quite able to pick up on what this image originally was but I really enjoyed the large size and great amount of texture that it has.
"The Last Cornerstone" was created by Julian LaVerdiere. It is a very large sculpture that hung is hung from a large hook in the middle of the room. LaVerdiere's goal is to mix commercial and art worlds together. This piece in particular is meant to represent one of the only remaining eagle sculptures in New York's Pennsylvania Station. I found it really interesting that he was able to mix history and art together in his pieces.
Overall, I had an amazing experience going to different galleries each week. It was always the perfect way to relax and become inspired by other artists before having to go back to busy, school work. It was nice to slow down once a week and appreciate the beauty at each gallery and to find new places to visit. Going to Starbucks and talking was a great way to end the experience and the semester, and it was so interesting to see what everyone is going to do after this year. Thank you so much for an amazing class!
