This Sunday I had the pleasure of attending the Dedo Maranville Gallery, where the Senior Exhibition–1461 Days Later– was opening. From the moment you step into the space, you get a sense of vital energy. With the live Jazz band playing and the upbeat audience mingling, the evening was set to be wonderful. Every piece, from beginning to end, withheld this soft and harmonious elegance. The gallery beautifully transitioned from warm to cool tones which moved the viewer from one end to the other. Among the talented six young women that put this show together, Karley Hamm, Alyssa McDonough and Ashlyn Wilkerson had multiple artworks that undoubtedly caught my attention.
Hamm continuously surprises me with the beautiful textures she creates throughout her ceramic pieces. Untitled Stoneware has a striking presence, which draws you in and allows you to fully analyze what is happening. The piece has a blend of warm and cool tones; with a muted blue and pale yellow almost dancing with one another, throughout the composition. She plays with lines, carvings, and indentions, to create this intriguing movement of texture. Hamm is able to build on this idea of texture by looking to the 70’s for inspiration. She renders these uniquely reimagined patterns that successfully capture her charm.
McDonough’s artworks remind me of the beauty in motion. Her wire sculpture Feelings of Rhythm draws on my notions of youth, with the way it utilizes contemporary elements such as minimalism. Three simplistic wire figures are in line, one beside the other, giving me a sense of connectedness. Playing off the movements of each other, they fill the composition nicely. I am able to envision the graceful strides of each figure, flowing between the positive and negative space of the lines. I am amazed at the way McDonough can take such a facile object like wire and make them into a stunning piece of art. Contrast and emphasis within her work, really helps to expand on her themes of dance and her time living by the beach.
Wilkerson really hones in on her ideals of being a strong and independent women. It is apparent that all her artworks convey this sense of vulnerability and brawniness. The photograph Karen & Isabelle combines these contrasting background colors, with visually compelling women, that demand the viewer’s attention. She embodies this essence of powerfulness and confidence that affects the viewer in a marvelous way. Not only is Wilkerson playful with her sets, models, and compositions but she does so in a way that still manages to depict the seriousness of the message.
These were just a few of the magnificent works in this show. The images included do not do them justice. I left feeling completely blown away and already planning my next visit. It’s quite clear, this is just the beginning for these women. They are bold, brilliant have a lot to say. Congratulations to the amazing Fall 2019 BFA seniors on a fantastic show. If you get the opportunity, it is definitely worth the visit!