WT/AC Student Faculty Show

AMoA was full of a wealth of eclectic, pivotal, well done art pieces for this past WT/AC show.

I liked so many of them, but I am going to reference the ones that really stuck with me.

Lana Ziegler's Hands and Feet were an amazingly beautiful rendition of ceramic hands and feet. The feet stuck in an ever present invisible high heels made me think of how uncomfortable and pressing the concern is to keep the feet beautiful and to have them arched and high for societal pressures. The hands posed and decorated with detailed flowing floral patterns. The toenails and fingernails painted and perfect just drive home the feeling of how the organic beauty of the natural body battles against the pressure for perfection.

Jesse Melson's "Above" took you there. Here one was faced with the "like mike" tennis shoes on a wire. These sneakers on the line were complete with Hermes wings on the heels. All of this floated above t-shirt clouds with roughly sewn lining. The piece felt like it was suspended high above the steel society below. It was a whimsical undertaking and I thought well done.

Ashley Grossman's Untitled work was a lovely study in contrasting textures and color. The successfulness of the dark and light plays in the photo is undeniable and the point of view was really interesting. The stop and go light patterned color palette made one take note. It drew me in at first then I started to really notice the differences in the flat surfaces of the photo and the rougher textural elements apparent as well. The repetition in the surfaces and colors really makes the pieces feel alive and electric. I was almost waiting for it to start blinking at me.

Karen Herpich's Harlequin, 2010 was a tasty little nugget at the show. This ceramic piece was a delight from all sides. The strong geometric patterns in the piece are boldly embellished with organic details. The bright base colors and the the body draw one in. The figure with its goatish face stands proud with one arm fading into a nature tilted oblivion.

Chad Harris made a strong showing with his Blind Contour and Blind Contour Plus. Two pieces that I would have proudly hung in my home but, alas, someone else must hold that honor! Harris's spray cans with the graffiti feel were full of bold gestural lines and movement. One piece delights in it's illusion of can upon can with the taste of camouflaged paint patterns. The other piece was a cool palette that had subtle reminiscent of the "Take on Me" video by Aha.

Stephanie Jung's delightful work called A conversation with the Noblest Gentleman was a soft cool colored facade hiding the hideousness of the deed. Here we come face to face with what looks like a lounging gentleman in his attire and waistcoat only to feel the cold hard slap of a dead deer laid out upon his lap. The gentleman juxtaposes the oddly bent legs of the animal with his own flippantly rested hand. To me it was a commentary on the things you see and the things that lie hidden beneath.