Although tableau often likes to cover major films, productions and other artistic events, we also enjoy reminding the University that we have some very talented artists within our smaller community. This past Friday, I had the pleasure of attending an exhibit presented by studio art majors at the University titled "Art in Making: 3rd Year Major Show."
The art show, which was part of the Final Fridays series hosted by the University Art Museum, was stationed in Ruffin Hall and consisted of works by third-year art majors concentrating in areas such as printmaking and new media. The pieces, which were arranged by discipline, ranged from photography to cinematography, allowing visitors to see the full spectrum of work created by University art students. Cara Linnenkohl, for example, created a table from wood and cork as a tribute to the principles of sustainability and eco-friendliness that the material of cork embodies, while art student Johanna Valentine submitted an untitled self-portrait in oil paint, which showed the artist putting on makeup. "I generally confine myself to the painting room, so it was refreshing to discuss other mediums," Valentine said. "I enjoyed seeing work and getting to talk to people from the other concentrations. Film and new media in particular are alien to me; I haven't had many chances to see what people were working on in that department."
I also was impressed by the film projects displayed, and spent a good amount of time in the adjoining room where cinematic shorts were being screened. Two stood out to me. The first was by Priscilla Goh, who in one long shot recorded a train ride through Tokyo from the point of view of a passenger gazing out the window. What made this short film all the more interesting was that it was shot Jan. 10, 2011, about two months before the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The second short was a documentary-like film by Tianho Lu that captured the current state of alleys in Shanghai. As the narrator explained, these alleys have been home to families for years, yet they all are scheduled for eventual demolition. Effectively capturing the run-down and claustrophobic nature of the alleys, this short acts as a cinematic vignette that reveals a startling slice of life. We often think the only art worth considering is that which has attained national success, but we could not be more wrong. We forget that great art has its roots in the local communities where it began. So, the next time you are making plans, do not brush off the option to attend a local art event. You may be pleasantly surprised; I know I was.
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