Eclectic Mix at Tidal Wave Senior Show

The Art PLace
Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
October 13- November 11, 2005


A friend and I recently viewed the KSU Senior Exhibition at the Art Place on Sandy Plains Road in east Cobb. The show is well worth the trip and features an eclectic mix of styles and themes. The show features photography, painting, graphic design and some sculptures. While one would expect to see similar projects from students schooled by the same art instructors, the exhibit succeeds in showcasing each artist’s abilities in a variety of media and topics.

The styles range from the fun and whimsical style of Amanda Johnson to the dark work showcased by Phillip Steadham. Amanda is a senior graphic artist but showed a range of ability in paintings and a wooden sculpture of butterflies she calls “Flutterbug”. This piece is mounted on a central rod which had colorfully painted butterflies suspended from different point ascending the pole. When a breeze passes the butterflies will move. In contrast to Amanda’s colorful pieces, Phillip’s work is dark and foreboding. A clay relief sculpture he calls “Revolving Slumber” is not a restful scene by far! It shows a dungeon-like scene that features an iron prison gate, flowers beneath the cell floor and an overall darkly hued picture plane that is down right creepy. Phillip also had several large paintings in the show. “Wonderland Metropolis” features menacing jokers, skeletons and red flames burning up some of the figures in the darkly colored painting. This metropolis is not a happy place, however, it is imaginative and well composed.

There are artists in the show whose styles are more serious and surreal. Allison Golden submitted many pieces that have a pensive quality which shows in the subject matter and color schemes she prefers. A portrait photograph, “Marie”, rendered in black and white features a young woman whose face is half concealed in the shadows. The “Jekyll-Offshore Storm” is a muted watercolor that captures the feeling of an impending storm. Kenneth Adams submitted several digital media pieces which have a surreal quality to them. He has a series he calls “Share Mad Scientist Journals”. The pieces would probably be featured alongside articles within this imaginary periodical. Initially, the images remind one of Frankenstein’s labs, but the juxtaposition of the images and unnatural positions of the figures allows the viewer to put the images into context.

The artists mentioned are only some of the exhibitors featured in this show. All demonstrate a strong artistic ability technically and conceptually allowing their individual beliefs and styles to come across clearly. This show is well worth the time of any art enthusiast and each student should be congratulated on a job well done!

Holly Allen