Shows explore sights and sounds in week-long display of works

It’s that time of year for many senior art majors. Four years of hard work, from introductory classes to senior reviews about their collections, have culminated in a final exhibit of their artwork. The gallery openings for Faira Holliday, Louise LaVerne, Mollie Reeves and Casey Sullivan were held on April 13-17, attracting a crowd of family, friends and classmates.

The artists explored a variety of themes through their work. Some used their art as a form of activism, like Casey Sullivan’s exhibit, “Slingshot.” She channeled her experience as a mentor to children to raise awareness about violence committed by and against children.

Sullivan crafted slingshots out of large branches, which surrounded the main piece, a quilt draped into a tent, with cushions on the floor creating an inviting atmosphere for the viewers. Throughout the reception, people could be seen sitting inside.

“I chose to recreate the object, a slingshot, because I think it is the optimal weapon to symbolize the action of violence in terms of childhood,” Sullivan wrote in her artist’s statement.

The quilt was a mélange of different colors and textures, with statistics about child violence sewn into some of the squares.

“I really loved working so many colors on a large scale,” Sullivan said.

Faira Holliday’s exhibit, “Solace,” explored the idea of peace in one’s surroundings. She worked in fibers and other natural materials that centered around her daily routine, such as coffee filters and tea bags. The natural color scheme, made up of mostly tans and browns, added to the serene ambience.

“It spawned from a deep interest in world religions,” Holliday said. “I am influenced and inspired by peoples who have used art as a path to find spiritual wholeness and foster peace.”

A weaving loom was set in the middle of the room where she demonstrated her work throughout the week.

“It’s to show that the process is as important as the final piece,” Holliday said.

The chair of the art department, Bill Fisher, had complimentary things to say about the artists.

“They encapsulate four years of scholarship and intense intellectual and sensory involvement with a wide range of media,” Fisher said.

Mollie Reeves used images of family members throughout time in her show, “Who We Have Been.” She utilized mixed media, such as cyanotype, charcoal and painting to depict them.

“It’s about understanding who your relatives are,” Reeves said.

The pieces showcased her fascination with the past and the way that people change over time. Her favorite work in her collection was “Child Tree,” a series of charcoal drawings of her relatives as children.

“It was fun to see what everyone looked like,” she said.

The final artist, Louise LaVerne, titled her show, “yeux/oreilles.” Yeux/oreilles is French for “eyes/ears,” and pursues the relationship between what the viewers hear and its impact on what they see.

Viewers walked through the gallery with music playing. The songs switched from a more upbeat tempo to a more serious tone over time. The photos were tied together by the music, which united pictures of a city to pictures of cats in cages; other images were also intertwined through sound.

“Each series started as a record cover.to make you think about the music,” LaVerne said.

The shows display the wide range of interests and concentrations of GCSU art students and were displayed in Blackbridge Hall and the Wooten-Garner House.

Mollie Reeves used images of family members throughout time in her show, “Who We Have Been.” She utilized mixed media, such as cyanotype, charcoal and painting to depict them.

“It’s about understanding who your relatives are,” Reeves said.

The pieces showcased her fascination with the past and the way that people change over time. Her favorite work in her collection was “Child Tree,” a series of charcoal drawings of her relatives as children.

“It was fun to see what everyone looked like,” she said.

The final artist, Louise LaVerne, titled her show, “yeux/oreilles.” Yeux/oreilles is French for “eyes/ears,” and pursues the relationship between what the viewers hear and its impact on what they see.

Viewers walked through the gallery with music playing. The songs switched from a more upbeat tempo to a more serious tone over time. The photos were tied together by the music which united pictures of a city to pictures of cats in cages; other images were also intertwined through sound.

“Each series started as a record cover.to make you think about the music,” LaVerne said.

The shows display the wide range of interests and concentrations of GCSU art students and were displayed in Blackbridge Hall and the Wooten-Garner House.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 24 2009. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry