O L I V I A   H E I S T E R K A M P

__________________________________________________________________

Olivia’s artwork is a series of miniature acrylic paintings and a second series of pencil and charcoal drawings. She completed her artwork in two separate classes, Painting I and II, both instructed by Professor Dennis McNally. She had the freedom to choose what she painted, which allowed her to be inspired by her peers as well as her surroundings both in and out of the classroom. Olivia’s paintings depict the seascapes and landscapes that surround her.  She describes her attraction to nature,

“I am greatly inspired by nature, and natural forms are what intrigue me most, AS opposed to rigidity. It is my default to portray landscapes/seascapes in a variety of ways. However, many of my drawings are still lifes or body parts. This mainly grew out of necessity – I am not always by the ocean or in the woods. I live in a poorly lit apartment on Lancaster Ave. That doesn’t exactly scream organic. However, it is my belief that beauty can come from anywhere and so can good art.”

You can see the inspiration from nature in all her pieces. A carefully chosen color palette of subtle blues and vivid greens evoke the natural movement of life throughout her paintings. Olivia pays close attention to detail taking care to include the smallest wave and tree branch in her paintings. She also emphasizes the horizontal with two distinct lines across the sky in two of her paintings and an emphasis on the horizon line in her landscapes and seascapes.

~ Rowan Sullivan ‘21
Gallery Exhibit Research Assistant

N I C O   T A M B O R E L L O
____________________________________________________

Nico’s artwork is a collection of three photo series printed on 13×19 inch Glossy + Matte Paper, taken on a digital camera and edited in Adobe Lightroom/PhotoShop. Nico created his two collections in the class “The Constructed Digital Image” instructed by Professor Krista Svalbonas. The photographs focus on light, shadow, and reflection found in urban scenes in Philadelphia. In addition, he emphasizes architecture and geometric shapes. Nico describes the differences among his three series:

“The first focuses on a person in an urban landscape and his shadow. The second is a collection of portraits of the street and found beauty. The last is more abstract, focusing on reflections, and shooting into windows to capture multiple reflections.”

Two artists have influenced Nico’s photography, Eugene Atget, “for his work focusing on shadow and reflections in Paris, which relates a lot to my work capturing shadows and reflections in Philadelphia.” He is also drawn to the work of Alfred Stieglitz “for his documentary-esque photography of the world around him.” You can see the influence of these artists mixed with Nico’s individual style in his use of light and shadow, where the flat planes and sharp angles intersect with soft shadows and subtle light, creating complex and abstract images.

~ Rowan Sullivan ‘21
Gallery Exhibit Research Assistant

J U L I A   D O N A H U E
____________________________________________________

Julia’s work showcases a variety of mediums, including color and black and white photography, ceramics and mixed media collage.

She completed her collections of photography in “Digital Photography I” instructed by Professor Mary Rhodomoyer and “The Constructed Digital Image” instructed by Professor Krista Svalbonas.

Julia has two collections of photographs, one titled “The Streets of Philadelphia,” which highlights the beauty of Philadelphia. She describes her inspiration for this collection saying,

“This is Philadelphia’s year. The Eagles won the Super Bowl, Villanova won the National Championship for basketball and that’s just two examples of how the underdogs came through. I was inspired by the city of Philadelphia for some of my work. I tried to show just a piece of how beautiful Philly really is.”

Her 8×10 inch charcoal drawing of Carson Wentz and head coach Doug Peterson doing a fist pump was inspired by the city of Philadelphia. Julia says of this drawing, “I wanted to show the unity of Philadelphia and how we really are the City of Brotherly Love.”

The other collection of colored photographs printed on regular matte and glossy paper are of the New York City Hair Show. These pictures focus on the model’s elaborate hairdos and the artistic ability of hair stylists. Julia describes her inspiration for these prints:

“I was inspired by my mother. She is a hair stylist. She took me to the New York City hair show and I was in awe of what my mother and other hair stylists can do.”

In one of these photos Julia weaves fake hair through the photograph in order to create a 3D effect. This artistic addition to the photograph adds her own stylistic twist to the collection of photographs and accentuates the intricate detail and extravagant hairstyle pictured in the image.

Julia created her 13×22 inch self-portrait by printing a photograph onto fabric, and then sewing the lyrics of the Beatles song “Julia” which she was named after, into the background with black thread. The self-portrait is Julia’s personal favorite work on display and says that the portrait is a piece that really speaks from her heart and shows people a little part of who she is.

On the second floor is a series of photo representations on eight pieces of glass picturing rowers on Kelly Drive as the sun is going down. Julia created this piece in the spirit of Philadelphia’s beauty. She was also inspired by the artist, Nobuhiro Nakanishi, who prints photographs of landscapes or sunsets on..glass..panels.
~ Rowan Sullivan ‘21
Gallery Exhibit Research Assistant

E L I A N A   A C T O R – E N G E L
__________________________________________________________

This collection of hand-built sculpture and pottery is an exhibition of vulnerability and complex hope. Personally, I have always been able to rationalize and cope with pain through the artistic process, in particular via its facets of self-exploration, expression, and even beauty. I decided to expand the scope of my project using a survey I devised, with a special interest in seeing how my responses to certain questions differ and align with those of others in the queer community. I disseminated my survey to my queer community and encouraged them to be open and honest; the bowls and sculptures each feature language taken from (and often reworded for clarity) their responses to the following questions:

If you could acquire any quality that you admire — whether it be mental, spiritual, or emotional — what would it be?

Has fear ever stopped you from doing something you wanted to? Describe a time this may have happened.

What is something you haven’t forgiven yourself for?

What are you holding on to that you want to let go of?

Though the answers vary, recurring themes of safety, anxiety, trauma, abuse, and gender dysphoria appear abundantly, suggesting their pre valence in the queer community.

The visual approach to this project is equally important as the messages scrawled across each form’s surface. Each piece adheres somewhat to the traditional aesthetics of Japanese ceramics, making use of porcelain and cobalt surfaces. Additionally, the technique used to repair some of the plates that broke during the firing is the Japanese process of Kintsugi, or to repair with gold. This further suggests to the viewer that simply because something appears broken at first glance, it may be able to be healed in a way that leaves it more precious than before. My theory is that the same is often true of people, in that a sense of brokenness in a person does not decrease their value and that vulnerability can be used to combat the fears that caused the breaks themselves. My experience both in physically creating these works of art and answering the survey have shown me the power of being unapologetically honest with the self in order to dispel the shame and guilt that surrounds fear.

J O E   W.   G R E V E R A __________________________________________________________

My sculptural work involves the mending of visual organization with pottery. With my wheel-thrown and large coil-built vessels, I take the traditional view of “pottery as replication” to another level by arranging different—but similar—forms around each other. Hopefully, this challenges how the visual impact of a group (of similar objects) may affect our perception of an individual object(s)—at what point does the group become the unit? I try to personify my pieces by subjecting them to alternative firing methods, allowing fire to do what it will with each piece. “Raku” is an ancient Japanese method of firing a clay piece until it is red hot, then taking it out of the kiln and submerging it into a container of combustibles to “reduce” in an oxygen-starved environment. A unique and unpredictable coloring is formed by the reaction of copper in the glazes. In a similar reducing process, I’ve used a wood fire kiln to allow the ash and heat to imprint on each piece. The beauty these firing methods are very recognizable yet nearly impossible to replicate.

With the large vases, I start by cutting one shape and then additional shapes that are reacting to each other. Once the cut pieces are physically removed, the “mother” vase appears to have lost its purpose and integrity. The cut pieces, or “kids”, are then meticulously refined and raku-fired. Just as with the original vase, each piece influences the next until they fit together. Although the “mothers” may have beauty, the “kids” grow to create something far greater.

Through these arrangements I invite a viewer to pass slowly—especially along the wall piece—to observe the alignments and misalignments, to enjoy the individual pieces, the spaces between and around them, and the arrangement as a whole. We are all unique and when we forget that, we get lost in a crowd.

H A N N A H   K E R K E R I N G
__________________________________________________________

I strive to make all my work simplistic, eye-catching, and powerful, and at the same time visually attractive. I start with a goal of what I want to accomplish, although I don’t always know how I’m going to get there. I always try to put myself in my work as much as possible by incorporating my personal style as well as my opinions and past experiences.

In this series, I want people to start analyzing and discussing social media, and how it often causes women to take drastic measures in order to achieve the “perfect body”. Influenced by the things and people I see every day on social media, I gather pictures of the most common unhealthy beauty habits and use these pictures as a stencil for my illustrations. The images are unrealistic and appear unfinished in order to reiterate how these bodies, as portrayed on social media, are unnatural and unrealistic.

With this body of work, I am encouraging people, especially young women, to consider why they feel they need to change their appearance. Poor body image among women is nothing new. However, the shocking statistics combined with the familiar imagery should provoke dialogue.

C.  S O F I A   N A A B
__________________________________________________________

My art medium is cross stitch. Cross stitch is a craft, where I sew stitches in the form of X’s. I started learning to sew when I was very little. My abuelita, (grandmother) taught me, and introduced me to a craft that isn’t done as often as it was in the old days, when women did embroidery as a pastime. By the time I was in high school, I became so obsessed with the craft that it was suggested that I do projects from my own pictures, but I didn’t actually start doing it until last year. I found the tools that allow me to upload a picture, pixelate it, and decide how big I want the finished piece to be, thereby converting the image into a pattern. The challenge is in the precision of the stitches; I manage this by marking the back of cloth every ten stitches, which is how the pattern is gridded: small squares separated by a bold line every 10 x 10 stitches.

Most artists create work that shows an emotional interpretation of a subject. My work doesn’t give me any sense of emotion; rather, it’s an experimental process that combines contemporary photography with an outdated craft. When I started this project, I wasn’t thinking about what I was going to do, I just wanted to finally try something of my own design. I’m an individual with a mild form of autism, therefore, I often display a repetitive behavior; sewing is a craft with a repetitive motion, so when I do it I’m not thinking about how the project is going to turn out (I have those thoughts when I’m creating the pattern). Once I have a pattern to guide me, the finished product is already mapped out on the fabric, so to speak, and I think I can concentrate on bringing it to life. I thought this would be an appropriate “Senior Project” as I like the idea of creating something that most people haven’t seen before.

J U L I A N   A.   S M I T H
__________________________________________________________

When making my work I seek to create a space that the viewer can project themselves into and explore. The spaces take on the form of fantastical and alien landscapes, but each begins with an individual object from which I expand and build; much like a conversation.

The initial object is an abstraction of an emotion or experience. Often they spring from my struggles with mental illness, specifically depression. I then translate the emotion or experience into a physical object which seeks to convey something that is central to the subject. For example, containment and enclosure are common themes that I visit when exploring my mental illness.

Once the initial object is complete I begin to react and respond to it much as you would follow a line of thinking. I have a conversation with the objects I build and attempt to piece them together like an argument; putting in new ideas when I have them, and taking out ones that don’t work. Eventually, I end up with a landscape of objects that has sprung from a single emotion or experience, much like an argument springs from a single thought.

The spaces are meant to function as places to escape to, but also as spaces that encourage reflection and introspection. Hopefully, the abstract nature of these spaces allows the viewer to step outside the boundaries they unconsciously set for themselves, and explore ideas in a way they might not have let themselves before.

I find it is important to step back and look at things in a new way. Whether they be brand new, or familiar issues. Sticking to our entrenched ways of thinking leads us nowhere and does us, and our communities, a disservice. If we are to grow as a community we will need to step outside our habitual ways of thinking and explore new and potentially uncomfortable ideas.

Student Ceramics Exhibition
by Devon D’Andrea ‘20, Gallery Exhibition Research Assistant

Kristin Skeuse ’18

Ceramics is an art form dating back to prehistoric times that involves heating and cooling an inorganic solid to create a desired shape. Ceramic vessels have been used functionally and decoratively by almost every culture in the world. This medium is noted for its demand of patience, craftsmanship, and artistry.

Led by Jill Allen, the Advanced Ceramics students offer pieces that express accomplished freedom and personality. Neil Patterson guided Ceramics I students in learning the foundation of ceramics, with pieces displaying a full understanding of shape, texture, and balance.

These works are by art majors and minors, as well as by  work from students who double major or major in disciplines other than art. Although there is no common theme among the pieces exhibited, Allen and Patterson both feel that both the beginner and advanced compositions display the students’ hard work and personal artistry. The variety and diversity of the work these students have produced is a representsation of the diversity of the students’ approaches .

Joseph Grevera, Class of 2018

The pieces Joe, a  major, included in this show are representative of trial and error, and he considers them to be works that he feels are personal success stories. Much of his current work revolves around exploring a certain process, with the final product being more representative of the process than of the form itself. One of his works, a set of three vessels, was created using traditional Raku firing techniques, and are displayed in order according to the length of firing time, the shortest being the most copper in tone, and the longest being the bluest the longest.

Alexandra Herrera, Class of 2018

In creating the set of sake cups and an accompanying sake jar, Alexandra, a  major, was inspired by a traditional sake set her grandmother gave her, as well as a trip to Japan when she was a child. The sake jar is rounded and natural, a personal take on traditional cylindrical sake jars. Similarly, the set of Nightmare Before Christmas themed cups and Corpse Bride plate are reminiscent of the movies she loved growing up. All of Alexandra’s works were created all of her works using a non-traditional process, looking at the design process as a culmination of multiple techniques to perfectly represent her vision.

Christopher Stevens, Class of 2018

Christopher, a senior Biology major, floored instructor Neil Patterson with his enthusiasm and talent. One of his pieces, inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender is a vase meant to replicate an artifact from The Fire Nation, a fictional culture from the show, while employing fundamental pottery techniques.

https://sites.sju.edu/art/

https://www.instagram.com/sjugallery/

https://twitter.com/SJUGallery

Coffee Hour, Tuesday, 2/20 8am – 9am.
Stop by Boland Hall Gallery for coffee and take a look at this series of student photographs

Samantha Hagelbarger

Students in Professor Krista Svalbonas’s Digital Photography I class present their latest images. There are over twenty photographs on display by fifteen students from varying backgrounds covering a wide range of subjects.

Natalie Simms

Experimenting with shutter speed, aperture, depth of field, the rule of thirds, and light,  students from Professor Krista Svalbonas’s Digital Photography 1 class explored a particular theme or idea in these photographs Practicing different techniques has pushed students to identify certain technical and aesthetic characteristics of a photograph inside and outside of the classroom.  According to Svalbonas, “Digital Photography 1 introduces students to the fundamental terminology, concepts, methodologies, and techniques of digital photography. It focuses on the principles of composition, lighting, and visual story telling in photography.”

These photos show students’ perspectives on “how to tell a narrative story of the human experience” through digital photography, according to Professor Svalbonas. Svalbonas encouraged students to “photograph something that you feel strongly about, that interests you and you want to learn more about.”

For Dylan Eddinger ’19, Digital Photography 1 has challenged him to come out of his comfort zone as a photographer. As Eddinger reflects on taking Digital Photography 1, he now feels confident that “I can effectively create my own narrative in photographs.” Eddinger recalls one of the biggest obstacles he faced:photographing a series of photos that“involved something bigger than myself.”         

Eddinger chose to shoot his photographs at different locations throughout the city of Philadelphia. Prior to taking each photograph, he had a specific vision in mind. The man he photographed surrounded by American flags is a Philadelphia native and blues rocker who idolizes Bruce Springsteen.     One of Eddinger’s favorite images in the exhibition is from his long exposure series that contains the tagline for the fight against opioid addiction; “It only takes a little to lose a lot.” In a place where heroin takes over the streets, Eddinger found himself walking past “many struggling homeless people, and witnessed two corner deals” as he stood under the L train in Kensington Philadelphia at 2:45 am. As a result of witnessing what many people face in their daily lives, Eddinger believes that “there is hope for these people who have become addicted in our city.” Using photography, Digital Photography 1 had the opportunity to bring social and political issues in Philadelphia to light.

______________________________________________________________

“Photography can offer you a new way to look at your surroundings. It can surprise, inspire, excite and re-imagine the world around us.”    —Professor Krista Svalbonas

—Kelly Smith ’19
Gallery Exhibition Research Assistant

Blaise Knebels

Professor Steve Cope’s Drawing II student work featuring:
Rozana Almaddah, Ian Asaph, Shane Chapman, Angelica Christina, Francesca DeSapio, Matthew Erlandson, Kyndall Hawkins, Erin Kelly, Jessica Kerns, Zoe Malone, Regina Oliveri, Hunter Schmeusser, Alexa Sinatore, Andrea Warren, Anissa Wilson

Zoe Malone

Professor Steve Cope’s Drawing II course focuses on enhancing students’ drawing skills. The first half of the semester focuses on sizeable still life drawings. These drawings pay close attention to form, light and shadows, and values of light and dark. Shading within these still life drawings pays attention to the intricate folding of fabric, the features of sculpted heads and texture and shape of pottery vessels. For homework assignments, Professor Cope gives the students a word to interpret in any way that the student wants. For example, one word was “cast.” The drawings produced varied from a fisherman casting, to a cast at a closing of a show. The broad interpretations of the word demonstrate each student’s personality and interests.  Some other homework assignment words were: post, feat, multiple, turn, wearily and swanky.

Gabriella Youshock ’20
Gallery Exhibition Research Assistant

Angelica Christina

Erin Kelly  “Swanky”

Jessica Kerns

Within this illustration, a model shifts her head to the left to reveal scenery in the background. The dark and dense background suggests to the viewer that nighttime is swiftly approaching. This is illustrated by the light behind the figure. This drawing was done in pencil, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. This obscuring plays a crucial role in creating feelings of uncertainty, or uneasiness.
– Gabriella Youshock

11/9/17 Artist Talk – Ben Schwab

 
Everything Is Different, But Still The Same, Oil on canvas, 88 x 138 inches, 2017

Getting Here From There

            New York artist Ben Schwab grapples with the theme of “getting here from there” in his collection of cityscape paintings. In this gallery, viewers witness how Schwab’s work questions what he calls our “natural tendencies” as he tries to “make the unobservable, or unseen, more visible.” At first glance, each image appears to be bordering abstraction.  However, the negative space alongside minimal use of color compels the viewer to take a closer look at the details that reveal deteriorating cites such as Damascus and Aleppo.

            Getting Here From There is inspired by Schwab’s interest in video footage collected by drones. Schwab’s “honest sense of curiosity,” as he calls it, motivates him to incorporate images of decaying cities into large scale paintings. In his artistic process, Schwab manipulates and layers multiple screenshots through Photoshop to create one image. Further, the spaces that Schwab works with might appear to be equally familiar as they are unfamiliar to some viewers. Rather than presenting a single perspective in his paintings, Schwab forces viewers to step out of their comfort zones and look at spaces they most likely haven’t seen before. As a result, the nature of “getting here from there” ultimately encourages viewers to strengthen their ability to connect with a place when presented with an image depicting an unfamiliar space.

~ Kelly Smith ‘19
Gallery Exhibition Research Assistant

Transposition Of Immensity, Oil on canvas, 84 x 76 inches, 2016