New exhibition focuses on arts and sciences

October 21, 2011

Student, faculty, and alumni artists featured in new show

Westerly by Christine Neill '69,
watercolor and inkjet print on paper

The Schick Art Gallery at Skidmore College will present A Resolution of the Arts and Sciences, a new exhibition, from Oct. 28 to Dec. 4, 2011. An opening reception is scheduled at the gallery from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28.

Curated by a student/faculty team, A Resolution of the Arts and Sciences is an interdisciplinary exhibit featuring the work of Skidmore students, faculty, and alumni. The exhibit was inspired by Skidmore art Professor John Cunningham, whose sculptural works double as force-multiplying 'machines' able to move heavy objects.

From the realm of art, the exhibit features works that look to science or technology for their inspiration, subject matter, or realization, such as drawings of cancer and heart disease as seen at the cellular level; photographs of a raisin bread used as metaphor for the expansion of the universe; an interactive machine showing how ink jet printers work; and ceramic pieces illustrating of the chemistry of glazes. From the realm of science, the exhibit features photographs, videos, paintings, and objects used to facilitate, document, or interpret scientific research. These include images of stalagmites taken in fluorescent light; three-dimensional forms used in neuro-science experiments on visual perception; and watercolor paintings of ancient Maya murals from an archeological site in Chiapas, Mexico.

A total of 28 exhibitors are participating in the exhibition. Participants are as follows:students: Caitin Allen '12, Ali Carney-Knisely '12, Rivkah Gevinson '13, Rachel Fisher '12, Richard Lapham '12, Michelle Molokotos '13, Megan Pini '14; alumni: Lizzie Gill '11, Sarah MacWright '02, John Mathews '79, Courtney Mattison '08, Jesse Moy '11, Christine Neill '69, Stephen O'Brien '87, Doug Schatz '92, Doug Stern '89, Sarah Gomer '10, Charlie Engelman '11, Dave Rollins '10, George Brenner '10, David Kaufmann '06; faculty: John Cunningham, John Galt, Deb Hall, and Sangwook Lee, all Department of Art; Amy Frappier, Geosciences; Flip Phillips, Psychology; Heather Hurst, Anthropology.

Skidmore's Schick Art Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Admission is free.

Frappier

Installation%20view%2C%20Force%20Multiplier%20Hatshepsut%201%20by%20Professor%20John%20Cunningham%20in%20foreground.%20%27Force%20Multiplier%20Hatshepsut%201%20is%20a%20kinetic%20work%20designed%20to%20rotate%20a%20granite%20block%20to%20a%20vertical%20position%2C%20and%20then%20forward.%27%20%28John%20Cunningham%29

Installation view, Force Multiplier Hatshepsut 1 by Professor John Cunningham in foreground. 'Force Multiplier Hatshepsut 1 is a kinetic work designed to rotate a granite block to a vertical position, and then forward.' (John Cunningham)

Professor%20John%20Galt%20and%20alum%20Charlie%20Engelman%20with%20the%20cupola%20furnace%20they%20built.%20Galt%20writes%2C%20%27Throughout%20history%2C%20metal%20casting%20has%20played%20a%20significant%20role%20in%20the%20development%20of%20art%2C%20science%2C%20and%20culture.%20It%20continues%20to%20be%20a%20primary%20way%20sculptors%20realize%20their%20work....%20This%20cupola%20furnace%20was%20designed%20and%20built%20by%20a%20student%20%2F%20faculty%20team%20at%20Skidmore%2C%20and%20is%20used%20by%20students%20to%20create%20tools%20and%20works%20of%20art.%27

Professor John Galt and alum Charlie Engelman with the cupola furnace they built. Galt writes, 'Throughout history, metal casting has played a significant role in the development of art, science, and culture. It continues to be a primary way sculptors realize their work.... This cupola furnace was designed and built by a student / faculty team at Skidmore, and is used by students to create tools and works of art.'

Professor%20Sangwook%20Lee%20and%20a%20student%20use%20the%20interactive%20inkjet%20%27copier%27%20he%20built.%20Lee%20says%2C%20%27The%20idea%20for%20this%20piece%20came%20from%20my%20research%20on%20textile%20printers.%20Many%20machines%20seem%20very%20complicated.%20However%2C%20beneath%20the%20surface%20is%20a%20simple%20technology%20and%20idea....%20I%20created%20this%20piece%20to%20show%20people%20that%20the%20printer%20is%20a%20simple%20machine%20at%20heart.%27

Professor Sangwook Lee and a student use the interactive inkjet 'copier' he built. Lee says, 'The idea for this piece came from my research on textile printers. Many machines seem very complicated. However, beneath the surface is a simple technology and idea.... I created this piece to show people that the printer is a simple machine at heart.'

Installation%20view%2C%20A%20Resolution%20of%20the%20Arts%20and%20Sciences

Installation view, A Resolution of the Arts and Sciences

Installation%20view.%20Foreground%2C%20ceramic%20plates%20by%20student%20Megan%20Pini%2C%20demonstrating%20color%20changes%20using%20different%20glazes.%20Pini%20writes%2C%20%27The%20glaze%20aesthetics%20that%20viewers%20take%20for%20granted%20rely%20on%20chemical%20reactions%20and%20transformations.%20A%20thorough%20and%20intentional%20artist%20works%20to%20understand%20how%20these%20chemical%20reactions%20affect%20the%20final%20product%2C%20and...calculates%20a%20formula%20that%20benefits%20his%20or%20her%20work.%27%20At%20left%2C%20glass%20vase%20by%20alumna%20Dorothy%20Hafner%2C%20who%20uses%20glass%20as%20a%20medium%20rather%20than%20ceramic%20in%20order%20to%20achieve%20the%20greatest%20brilliance%20of%20glaze%20color.%20On%20wall%20toward%20right%2C%20alumna%20Courtney%20Mattison%27s%20ceramic%20piece%2C%20Dissolve%2C%20inspired%20by%20her%20study%20of%20marine%20biology.%20

Installation view. Foreground, ceramic plates by student Megan Pini, demonstrating color changes using different glazes. Pini writes, 'The glaze aesthetics that viewers take for granted rely on chemical reactions and transformations. A thorough and intentional artist works to understand how these chemical reactions affect the final product, and...calculates a formula that benefits his or her work.' At left, glass vase by alumna Dorothy Hafner, who uses glass as a medium rather than ceramic in order to achieve the greatest brilliance of glaze color. On wall toward right, alumna Courtney Mattison's ceramic piece, Dissolve, inspired by her study of marine biology.

Installation%20view.%20Professor%20Sangwook%20Lee%27s%20Inkjet%20Printer%20in%20foreground.%20Background%20at%20left%2C%20student%20Michelle%20Molokotos%27s%20Representation%20of%20Monet%27s%20House%20of%20Parliament%2C%20made%20of%20paint%20tubes.%20Molokotos%20writes%2C%20%27My%20art%20is%20a%20statement%20on%20the%20impact%20of%20the%20paint%20tube%20on%20the%20development%20of%20Impressionist%20painting.%27%20Background%20right%2C%20video%20by%20student%20Rivkah%20Gevinson.

Installation view. Professor Sangwook Lee's Inkjet Printer in foreground. Background at left, student Michelle Molokotos's Representation of Monet's House of Parliament, made of paint tubes. Molokotos writes, 'My art is a statement on the impact of the paint tube on the development of Impressionist painting.' Background right, video by student Rivkah Gevinson.

In%20the%20foreground%2C%20Skidmore%20alum%20John%20Mathews%27%20steel%20and%20wood%20sculpture%2C%20Eclipse.%20Mathews%20writes%3A%20%27%28The%20biological%29%20world%20is%20constantly%20undergoing%20dynamic%20change%20and%20metamorphosis.%20It%20is%20that%20unseen%20vital%20energy%20that%20inspires%20my%20sculpture.%27

In the foreground, Skidmore alum John Mathews' steel and wood sculpture, Eclipse. Mathews writes: '(The biological) world is constantly undergoing dynamic change and metamorphosis. It is that unseen vital energy that inspires my sculpture.'

Installation%20view.%20In%20foreground%2C%20untitled%20piece%20in%20wood-fired%20porcelain%20by%20alum%20David%20Kaufmann.%20In%20background%2C%20left%20to%20right%3A%20alumna%20Christine%20Neill%27s%20Toxic%20Beauty%20White%20Coral%2C%20an%20inkjet%20print%20%26%20watercolor%20on%20paper%3B%20alumna%20Dorothy%20Hafner%27s%20Tangerine%20Crescent%2C%20fused%20glass%20and%20stainless%20steel%3B%20and%2C%20far%20right%20on%20monitor%2C%20part%20of%20Geosciences%20Professor%20Amy%20Frappier%27s%20display%20of%20thin%20sections%20of%20calcite%20seen%20in%20polarized%20light.

Installation view. In foreground, untitled piece in wood-fired porcelain by alum David Kaufmann. In background, left to right: alumna Christine Neill's Toxic Beauty White Coral, an inkjet print & watercolor on paper; alumna Dorothy Hafner's Tangerine Crescent, fused glass and stainless steel; and, far right on monitor, part of Geosciences Professor Amy Frappier's display of thin sections of calcite seen in polarized light.

New exhibition focuses on arts and sciences

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