BY DAVID NOSTRAND
SC Copy Editor
A new national juried drawing art exhibit opened in the Madelon Powers Gallery, located Fine Arts and Performing Center, on October 9 and will run until November 15.
Curated by Art Department Chair and Gallery Director Joni Oye-Benintende and artist David Mazure, who both served as jurors along with Assistant Associate Professor Darlene Farris-Labar, Marks: A National Juried Drawing Exhibit is the gallery’s first juried drawing exhibit. A nationwide challenge was dispatched for artists to answer a question: How has mark-making evolved through the centuries, and how are artists making marks in a contemporarily relevant manner?
The challenge was meant with a strong response, and the final exhibit features 41 works provided by over 30 artists. As a whole, the gallery displays a diverse array of current trends in drawing processes and techniques.
The scattershot selection of artists lead to an exhibit sporting a variety of different takes on the exhibit’s theme, from three-dimensional mixed media, to two-dimensional lithographs, watercolor, graphite, pen & ink, digital inkjet, and charcoal.
More experimental artists contributed pieces seeking to expand the definition of drawing, such as Rosemary Meza-DesPlas, whose The Good Body was created with hand-sewn human hair. Jim Pearson’s digital drawings and Ronald Gonzalez’s dark non-reflective carbon and wax surfaces also represent a unique approach to the medium.
Star Varner, hailing from Texas, contributed the most immediate attention-grabbing work, a floor piece boasting swirling black, gold, and crimson markings, aside of which sat a sign reading “Please do not step on the artwork.” Ajean Ryan, the award recipient, came in from Colorado to install her three works, and she also gave a gallery talk during the artists’ reception, which was held on October 9.
The Madelon Powers Gallery is open for free to the public. Its hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 11 AM to 4 PM and Wednesday and Thursday 11 AM to 7 PM.
Email David at:
dnostrand@live.esu.edu