Unmuted

Mixed Media Student Exhibition
December 10, 2020 - Jan 10, 2021

Unmuted is an online exhibition of works from the Department of Art and Design’s Mixed Media course. Traditionally, this studio art course would culminate in a physical exhibition, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the class to think differently. The presentation title is taken from the “mute” button, which is a prominent feature of the online classroom tools that became such an essential aspect of our experience during this course. Despite the acute challenges that the students faced throughout in this unprecedented semester, as their creative energy was not the least bit muted.

Allie Peschel // AT CAPACITY
The density of the news media often leaves me feeling suffocated, disoriented, and drained. Synthesizing and processing the onslaught of information I am presented with is nearly impossible and it is difficult to discern who to trust and what to believe. I feel assaulted by the media everywhere I look. It turns out that it is just as difficult to look away as it is to stay tuned in. This puts me in an interesting space that I enter fully into though my work. I make myself at home there and I invite you in to explore this space with me.

Isabel Adolphe // The Glass Ceiling
To have a barrier in front of you that is not visible inhibits moving forward, and stalls coming up with a solution. The Glass Ceiling has been a familiar concept for feminists and those trying to push past that barrier. My artwork explores the struggles The Glass Ceiling presents to women and people of color who are trying to push through this barrier, which is only now becoming visible. I want to capture the strain and tension that effort creates. I want to reinvent the imagery of The Glass Ceiling because glass can be fragile; this barrier isn’t.

Jenna Bianco // Vibrance
In nature, bright colors connote the fullness of life. A sunny day, a clear blue sky, flowers in full bloom, could all represent joy and livelihood in someone’s eyes. I wanted to take the brightest and most saturated colors and combine them with abstract colors to give the viewer the same visual stimulation. No deeper meaning, no intentions, just getting lost in the small details and letting the color overtake your emotions. The only intentions I had while creating this series was to let the colors speak for themselves.

Natalie Huaco // Prey
To identify as a woman in society is a complex existence. Femininity, violence, poise, pain, strength, and fear are somehow stitched into the patchwork that makes up the female identity. The intention behind this body of work was to visualize the contradiction of womanhood. Drawing from my own experiences and frustrations, I worked to find form in these intangible emotions and to create a visual language that forces dialog between the materials. These works are not meant to be seen as directly representational, but rather, embody a suggestive nature. The tension between the organic and industrial, beauty and gore, and plush and penetrative, are themes intended to generate an uneasy emotional terrain for the viewer to experience.

Mya McWilliams // A Song in the Dark
My concept for this class was black. This semester I aimed to show the beauty in the dark; the light that guides me through my darkest days, my outlet. Music has always been a big part of my life. It’s my go-to in times of escape. I made digital portraits of the musicians who mean a lot to me. Black is often thought of as the end, but the end starts a new beginning. It creates an air of mystery that needs to be cracked. For this series, I sought to create darkness without actually using the color black. Black is made of all colors, and sometimes they just need a little air to breathe. As Gwen Hayes said, “Just remember, a dark shadow needs light to exist but light doesn't need darkness to be luminous.”

Rogelio Chavez // Energy
Energy is something within every being and object and it can hold beauty and deep richness. It is this depth that attracted me to focus on the concept of energy. Moreover, as a designer I have tended to stick to simple and quiet natured designs. Using the concept of energy gave me the opportunity to go beyond my comfort zone in transcending ways. Throughout this course I strived to express the physicality of energy through color, texture, shape and atmosphere. The composition of these elements would then create a unique mental interpretation to the viewer.

Natalie Cali //
Art and design are always moving forward. Collaboration allows for different types of art to mold together to create something new you might not have seen before. Streetwear versus high fashion, Renaissance art versus sneaker culture, or even cartoon characters versus fashion week, all allow for a new point of view. There is no limit to how far something can be pushed, or which design culture will take over next. There is always something new waiting to happen around the corner and there is always a crowd ready to watch.

Skyy Diop // Warped
My work uses a series of geometric shapes and the visual interaction between them. I began this series by thinking about the word warped and took it from there.

When I think of something being warped a certain feeling comes to mind. Like confused, distorted, disorientating but also engaging. These are the emotions I want my audience to feel when looking at my work. By digging deeper and deeper into the layers of these pieces, I want people to come to their own meanings and conclusions.

Miles Long-Dodley // Flagrant
Behavior is often defined and judged by commonality, but life is far from common isn’t it? Whether it is by choice or unwillingly, we are at the disposal of the truths, myths and facades of our environment with no escape. I choose to highlight the impulsive behavior in Gotham City that directly reflects the citizens and their underlying conditions. These criminals born from necessity reveal their emotions in flagrant ways that appear wrong. But expression is everything. It is how we think, appear, and most importantly act. What is the sine qua non of your expression?

Rebecca Schraibman // Origins
Something that has always interested me was the story behind some of the most famous paintings. Whether there was one little spark that led to the creation of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, or a piece of art that tells a story once you look at it, I knew that I wanted to get people to think once they looked at my artwork. My work focuses on my own personal story, growing from a little girl trying to be just like her older brother, to finally realizing who I am and what I was meant to do all along. Each significant part of my life is represented in a painting, allowing me to truly get out of my comfort zone and begin another chapter in the story that is my life.

Seth Newton // Lost in Translation
Loneliness comes in many forms. Some may not even realize they are feeling lonely until that time has passed. Life can fly by in isolation but can also drag on forever. Days meld into nights, due dates become meaningless numbers. The best way to portray these feelings is by not saying anything at all. The viewer must connect with the artist through the bare minimal of interaction. Sound and color only serve to distract from the emotion and are not necessary. Just don’t get lost in translation.

Eddie Rodriguez // Perception
My work derives from the word perspective. I chose this word because I often communicate through non-verbal means and because I understand that everyone will view my images from a different point of view. I use my artwork to express my emotions and my thoughts. While I hope that my intentions come across clearly, in the end there will be people that see my work as a differently than I intended, and that is the beautiful thing about art.