Matt Carmody
April 24, 2009
UH 440 – Domain of the Arts
Passing Grade for Five Graduate Students
It was crunch time. Five students in the WSU graduate fine arts program were required to create their thesis project and attain their Master’s Degree. The work could be described as meaningful with hints of aesthetic appeal. This exhibit was perfectly described by Dustin Price, one of the students. He said that the work is, “an investigation of the direct correlations between the act of contemplation, discourse, emotional stillness, and the making or experiencing of my work.” These works of art, whether they came in the form of a paper installation, or ceramic animals, or even the video, were highly concentrated in a meaning that stemmed from the movement, light, and space of each work. At times the images were recognizable and would lead the viewer down a particular path while at other times the viewer was left to depict the purpose intended by the artist and the significance behind the work.
There are a few works at the exhibit that are worth mentioning. First, there is the installation Elephant Splat by Dustin Price. It depicts an elephant by using shadows and shapes on the wall behind. Dustin says, “My process repeatedly gives way to questions that cannot be answered, but I believe attempting to understand these questions is often just as significant as answering them.” This was perfectly represented in his installation.
The use of light in this work provides an interesting effect. The fact that it is a three dimensional piece of work allows the viewer to see the work from various angles and perspectives. However, the light is stationary and therefore, when the shadows fall upon the wall, a two dimensional work of art appears which remains constant no matter from what angle one looks at it. This can be interpreted in many different ways which coincides with Price’s statement and claims that the process of interpretation is vitally important.
Another work that was particularly interesting was the series of six paintings done by Brad Dinsmore. These paintings were the best job of combining meaning and aesthetic appeal. Each one had an image of an individual almost hidden in the background. The individual was always shown from mid thigh to the neck. Some images were clearer than others but they all had an underlying hint of this person. A quote that Dinsmore had accompanying one of his paintings was from Thomas Merton. He said, “Yet the face remains that we are invited to forget ourselves on purpose, cast our awful solemnity to the winds and join in the general dance.” The fact that there is no face allows the viewer to put themselves in the painting. By having each viewer put himself or herself in the painting creates this general dance that in viewing the six paintings, one is able to join.
Finally, the last piece of work that was particularly interesting was the movie Sailor by Tobias Walther. It was a combination of two movies that appeared to be separate from each other but particular scenes would come together to show a single picture or movie. On the first glance this movie appeared to lack any sort of meaning or aesthetic appeal. This piece is entitled Sailor leaving one to believe they are at sea. The movie depicts a person who is amongst a sea of wheat in the Palouse. Stemming from this interpretation another meaning was noticed. The two videos which appeared to be completely different aside from the times they came together showed a surprising connection. They were actually on loops that were directly opposed from each other. One could watch the entire movie on the right and half way through it, another person could come and view the movie on the left and see the exact same movie. It was as if the two people in each video were searching for each other but kept running in circles. This feeling that is evoked is similar to a sailor lost at sea as one would feel like they are sailing in circles without chance of ever finding land.
As I finished viewing the exhibit I left with a sense of where the future of art is heading. These artists became less concerned of visual appeal and more concerned with an underlying message and emotion. They wanted viewers to leave and contemplate the emotion rather than have it spoon fed on a silver platter. The market for art will have to adapt to these types of art for these artists to succeed but as it has happened before, the artists will eventually lead the market. It is just a hope that the market shifts while the artists are still around.
