2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty of Art Department have chance to showcase their work
Ashley Johnson
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Currently showing in the Weatherspoon Art Museum is a fairly large collection of UNCG faculty work in an exhibition called "UNCG Department of Art Faculty Biennial." All of the artists featured in the exhibition are faculty members who are currently on staff. The show doesn't have a set theme, but all pieces presented make up a largely diverse orientation of work. The pieces present a wide range of work such as painting, video, photography, collage, and sculpture.
Among some of the most provoking pieces is Nikki Blair's slip casting titled "Trojan." The slip cast sculpture is a solid interpolation of handguns and the continuous appearance of a man flying upward amidst the chaos, fixed on a sculpted, wheeled base, almost as if being fired from a cannon. The entirety of the sculpture is seemingly ironic considering the subject matter and the image, but is a breath-taking piece of art nonetheless.
"Trojan represented stereotypical traits of manhood or maleness. At the same time it was inevitable that the viewer would see it as a comment to the war, which is great but not my only intention. It was more in the back of my mind when creating the piece and not at the forefront," says Blair.
Patricia Wasserboehr, head of the Department of Art, is excited about what the artists have brought to the table. "Their studio practice and experiences in the art world directly contribute to their work with students as teachers, mentors and advisors," she says.
The work shown is a great example of their artistic influence. Michael Ananian's work is the perfect example of this influential art. Most notably, his oil on canvas painting titled "Garage Quintet." The picture depicts three melancholic band members sitting in a garage, waiting around with their instruments. The other two missing members of the band are portrayed as only shadows on the far left of the painting.
Ananian and Blair are not the only ones offering remarkable work. There are 18 more faculty artists: Barbara Campbell, Chris Cassidy, Alicia Creus, Andrew Dunnill, Bryan Colburn Ellis, Seth Ellis, Robert Igoe, Elizabeth Leal, Billy Lee, Amy Lixl-Purcell, John Maggio, Sarah Martin, Jon Smith, Leah Sobsey, Mariam Aziza Stephan, Chris Thomas, Susanne Thomas, and Lee Walton. Each have their own way of interpreting their own artistic capabilities and it aids to diversifying the artistic aspects. This is what Wasserboehr wanted to accomplish.
"We want the community to know that studio art professors are all highly accomplished artists and that they pursue rich and diverse approaches to their studio practice throughout the nation and abroad," she says.
The work on display is nothing short of amazing and is certain to awaken the senses, as most great art does. The UNCG Department of Art Faculty Biennial will run from now until Dec. 9. For more information on this show as well as others, visit the Weatherspoon website at weatherspoon.uncg.edu.
Among some of the most provoking pieces is Nikki Blair's slip casting titled "Trojan." The slip cast sculpture is a solid interpolation of handguns and the continuous appearance of a man flying upward amidst the chaos, fixed on a sculpted, wheeled base, almost as if being fired from a cannon. The entirety of the sculpture is seemingly ironic considering the subject matter and the image, but is a breath-taking piece of art nonetheless.
"Trojan represented stereotypical traits of manhood or maleness. At the same time it was inevitable that the viewer would see it as a comment to the war, which is great but not my only intention. It was more in the back of my mind when creating the piece and not at the forefront," says Blair.
Patricia Wasserboehr, head of the Department of Art, is excited about what the artists have brought to the table. "Their studio practice and experiences in the art world directly contribute to their work with students as teachers, mentors and advisors," she says.
The work shown is a great example of their artistic influence. Michael Ananian's work is the perfect example of this influential art. Most notably, his oil on canvas painting titled "Garage Quintet." The picture depicts three melancholic band members sitting in a garage, waiting around with their instruments. The other two missing members of the band are portrayed as only shadows on the far left of the painting.
Ananian and Blair are not the only ones offering remarkable work. There are 18 more faculty artists: Barbara Campbell, Chris Cassidy, Alicia Creus, Andrew Dunnill, Bryan Colburn Ellis, Seth Ellis, Robert Igoe, Elizabeth Leal, Billy Lee, Amy Lixl-Purcell, John Maggio, Sarah Martin, Jon Smith, Leah Sobsey, Mariam Aziza Stephan, Chris Thomas, Susanne Thomas, and Lee Walton. Each have their own way of interpreting their own artistic capabilities and it aids to diversifying the artistic aspects. This is what Wasserboehr wanted to accomplish.
"We want the community to know that studio art professors are all highly accomplished artists and that they pursue rich and diverse approaches to their studio practice throughout the nation and abroad," she says.
The work on display is nothing short of amazing and is certain to awaken the senses, as most great art does. The UNCG Department of Art Faculty Biennial will run from now until Dec. 9. For more information on this show as well as others, visit the Weatherspoon website at weatherspoon.uncg.edu.
Be the first to comment on this story