A sculpture made of paper cups. A candelabra of cans and chicken wire. Oil paintings of Fairfield in February. These are just a few of the pieces you will see in this year’s student art show.
The 2005 Fairfield University Studio Art Exhibition features 64 pieces of art – including paintings, photographs, sculptures, installations and prints – from more than 50 student artists.
“I think this year we have a really strong show,” said Dr. Diana Mille, a professor of art history and director of the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery at the Quick Center. “The show is particularly strong because of the creative projects that are being assigned in the studio art classes.”
According to Mille, this show has more installations than there have been in the past.
“I’m really happy to see that there are quite a few installations,” said Mille. “All of the installation art is interesting; it really explores the relationship between art and space.”
Installation highlights include Jennifer Pasciucco’s “Inevitability,” a wall installation featuring dozens of Xeroxes of original geometric drawings that spill onto the floor.
Another installation, Stephanie Santos’ “Untitled,” has a more interactive component. Viewers are encouraged to rearrange the brightly colored plastic forms on the floor as they please, then fill out a form and take a Polaroid of their creation.
There’s also a large amount of photography, including Michael Riley’s silver gelatin print “Pictograms,” and an assortment of black and white photography, including photographs by Mirror Photo Contest winner Lauren Cesiro (“Transformation of the Self”) and honorable mention Jeff Alighieri (“Pumpkin Pie,” “Stars and Stripes”).
There’s also a range of digital photography, including Pamela Carbone’s “Underwater,” Megan Pizzo’s “Euphoria,” Danielle Craparo’s “Transformation,” and many others.
“The painting in the show was also quite good,” added Mille. “The concepts they explored were interesting.”
Other highlights of the show include Beth Grimes’ “Untitled,” which uses colored tape to create a scene on the wall, Megan Cullen’s “Untitled” prints of designer handbags, and Any Miklos’ “Baby Diaper,” which has a strong pop-art influence.
In addition to the 62 pieces inside the gallery, there are two outdoor installations. Pascicucco’s “Polka Dotted Tree” is on display in the Japanese Garden, though photographs are available in the gallery. Jason Barrett’s “Sunset Memorial,” a wood installation that uses light and shadow to commemorate the fallen World Trade Center Towers, can be found outside the Quick Center.
The show, which is organized and run by a team of students and professors, opened to the public in a ceremony on April 5.
The pieces are set up like those in most traditional mid-sized galleries, guiding viewers around the periphery of the museum, and then inside.
Pieces featured in the exhibit were submitted by students and chosen by a panel of judges, including Susan Chamlin and Jo Yarrington.
“We’re a fine arts program,” Mille said. “We’re really focused on creativity and the process of art. I think this year’s pieces show that.”
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