Sarah Daly Best in Show

Kennesaw State University
Fine Art Gallery
Joe Mack Wilson Building
Tidal Exhibition - Senior Art Major Fall Exhibition
November 10 - December 8, 2005

Art Theory & Criticism Class

Exhibition Review

Sarah Daly Best in Show

The senior exhibition located at Kennesaw State University, Fine Arts Gallery is well done and worth seeing. The show displays paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, graphic arts and multimedia pieces. Although some works are predictable, there are many pieces that are thought provoking.

"Map 53," oil on canvas, by Sarah Daly, is best in show. Sarah scratched into the top layers to expose the under-painting. She employs a dark palette, and she appears to back light the figure. While the figure looks down the glowing light from behind offers her protection. The underlying map indicates Sarah is on a journey. This piece is thought provoking because one wonders what the figure is thinking. Another piece by Sarah demonstrates she is thinking outside the box when she illustrates residential homes using pen and ink on the white pages of the phone book–very creative.

Ben Goldman’s "Autumn Rain," oil on panel, is a great piece, and the color palette is appropriate to his theme. Jessica Blinkhorn’s "The World Around Me," coffee, tobacco, ash, and graphite on watercolor paper seems to successfully express the artist’s inner vision, as well as Valerie Houcek’s "Self Portrait I," charcoal, where she renders herself trapped behind bars.

The KSU Senior Exhibition is an overall success, and these artists are off to a good start.
Carol Craig, KSU student

See This Show!

The second of three senior shows this semester, Tidal Wave II is one of the finest in recent years. Including the strongest work from several of the most accomplished artists currently on campus, it has been a predictable success. While all of the artists in the exhibition can be considered exemplary products of Kennesaw State’s art program, there were a few participants that were especially remarkable.

Showing her proficiency in a varied body of work, Sarah Daly is clearly one of the stars of this show. The most memorable piece for me was “I Know Where You Live”, a phone book with ink drawings of homes corresponding with one of the addresses on that page. While making the viewer slightly uncomfortable, it brings up the increasingly important issue of personal privacy. Other notable pieces included the mixed media works “Map 53” and “Map 21”, which use layers of maps and paint to achieve a complex and dramatic result.

Brandon Crawford’s series of handsome nudes are dichotomies of ethereal and substantial, beautiful but mysterious. This effect is produced through her technique of monochromatic subtractive painting, where the figure is carved out of the paint. Though the figures are large in scale, the poses and cropping help retain a feeling of intimacy. Another remarkable piece is “You’d Never Know to Look at Her”, which is the artist’s self-portrait in a pink wig and lingerie. The pose is unique and her painting produces the appearance of realistic textures in the clothing and hair.

The other standout from this exceptional group of artists is Jessica Blinkhorn. Much of her work focuses on personal issues, such as her physical handicap. Though she may have limited use of her arms and hands, her drawings are exquisite. Blinkhorn effectively communicates with the viewer through the depiction of her own emotions, such as in the piece entitled “What God Does to One of His Own”. She also uses interesting techniques such as burning areas of the paper with tobacco ash and staining the paper with coffee. Her piece “Sight” is an example of Blinkhorn’s use of Plexiglas to float her piece, edges burned and ragged, on the wall. These, combined with her considerable technical skills, make her pieces noteworthy.

This exhibition is definitely worth attending, despite the effort it takes due to the gallery’s odd hours. Overall, the show is a testament to the quality of the art program at KSU.

S. Wieland

State Senior Show

I attended the senior show at the Fine Arts Gallery located in the Joe Mack Wilson Building. Over all, I found the show to be successful. The show displayed a variety of media such as sculpture, oil paining, graphite drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics, graphic design work, and digital imaging. Most of the pieces looked original and professionally done. There were two artists who stood out to me. They were Angelina Khomrenko and Brandon Crawford.

Angelina Khomrenko displayed three series of digital photography. Each series held three photographs side by side. The first series was the "pink series". It showed three variations of pink flowers. All were close-up and vary detailed. The second series was called "yellow-green series." The two outside photos were greenery from plants and the middle photo was a picture of the inside of a yellow flower with a bug in the center. I found this one to be particularly compelling because of the colors and the detail shown on the bug. The last series was the "green series." It also showed beautiful images found in nature. Angelina took things I walk past everyday and captured them in a unique way that made me stop and take the time to really look at them.

Brandon Crawford displayed a series of oils on masonite. All the paintings were nudes done in various shades of gray, black and white. The paintings I liked the most were "Nude 1," Nude 2," "Nude 3," "Nude 4," and "Nude 7." All of Brandon's paintings showed strong values as well as a remarkable knowledge and ability to implement what is known as chiaroscuro. This made his figures look very three dimensional. Brandon also choose unique poses. Some paintings were whole bodies and some just torsos, all in perfect proportion. The large size of the paintings also drew my attention.

By: Sharlene Foster

Senior Art show

As I was walking through the show I was amazed to see that there were not a lot that of pieces that caught my eye. One piece that stood out to me was “Marie” created by Alison M. Golden. She seemed to capture the child in its true innocence. Alison seemed to be able to grasp a broad variety of media. I think that she did very well. There were other pieces that caught my eye in the graphic design area as well. I thought that they were wonderful, creative pieces. Although I like most of them I don’t feel like I have enough background in this area to give an accurate critique.
I wish that i had more to say about the art pieces but there wasn't alot that stood out to me. I am looking forward to seeing the next Kennesaw Senior Art show.

J. Barnard

Tidal Exhibit #1

I attended the Tidal Exhibition at the Art Place featuring some of the artwork made by Kennesaw State University's senior class. There were many different mediums, which included photography, wood, digital design, ceramics and more. Many of the artists approached things from very different perspectives; some were successful, others not so much. Some pieces lacked inspiration and instead of developing their own personal style, it seemed like some artists were mimicking what they’ve already seen. Most of these pieces were most likely made for class assignments, during the process of discovering who they were as artists, so it’s unfair to expect absolute professionalism or success.
Honestly, after seeing the show I am no longer intimidated by upperclassmen. I was thoroughly disappointed with the show in general. One artist I was impressed with was Kenneth Adams. He left a book of many examples of his other pieces. He also had many leave behinds and the presentation was very professional. I picked up his leave behind postcard with the intention of seeing more of his artwork on his website. Disappointingly however, there was none and the website given reflected nothing of the artist; I’m assuming the site may be another example of his work. I was probably drawn to his work because the majority of his pieces were not only eye-catching, but successfully executed. Also, being a graphic design major myself; I can appreciate the uniqueness of the media.
After reading some artist’s biographies I can tell that art is very important to many of them, which is really great- to have artists with heart. However, technical skills come in handy too. Just as long as people realize that while some art is meant to be sold and hung in galleries; some is meant to be done as a hobby in their free time.

--KM

Tidal Exhibition 2005 Review

November 14, 2005, 12:30
Fine Arts Gallery / Joe Mack Wilson Building

As I walked away from the Fine Arts Gallery, I concluded that the Tidal Exhibition was a mix of mediocre and great work, making it a decent body of art overall. I understand that the students are not entirely responsible for their work since most of the pieces clearly had instructional intentions influenced by the faculty. Taking this as a reflection of the campus, I feel that there is still work to be done by the faculty and upcoming seniors alike if we are to strengthen the reputation of the campus.

Personally, I am drawn to mediums and styles I have never seen before. The work of Jessica Blinkhorn exemplified this with her clever uses of coffee and ash within her ink illustrations. Her penmanship was astounding as I studied her linework closely. On craftsmanship alone, I have to salute Ben Goldman. His series of nudes on masonite were highly impressive. Valerie Houcek's oilworks were also amazing. Jennifer Anderson also deserves an honorable mention. Each of these students really took their creations above and beyond, as evident by their accuracy and crispness of their works. They were also rewarded by having more of their works on display too.

The exhibition really succeeded in demonstrating illustration but I feel that the display was somewhat lopsided and did not cast every art arena in equal light. There were wood sculptures, yes, but what about traditional clay sculptures? What of ceramics, is there nothing representative of each field of art? Graphic design was represented well. Photography could have been better, what I saw did not hold my attention for long. I just feel that a successful exhibition which is representative of a university should have a wider variety of mediums and subjects.

Based on the subject matters of each work, I considered the mood of the exhibition was somewhat somber, maybe even hopeless. It's understandable that the college youth of today are bitter and ridden with despair but I think that is also where the faculty steps in and tries to mold some of the works in a more hopeful setting. Gloom and doom has been overdone, why not take a unique approach? I am not demanding flower power or anything, I just feel that art can still be dark and mysterious without the typical overtones. Art is the expression of the self but not much can be said about individualism when everyone is expressing the same exact thing.

To conclude, I give the Tidal Exhibition high marks on technical aspects but lower marks on originality. I tend to flock to more technically sound images, which I believe this exhibition contained. But if this body of work was to be examined solely on aesthetics, I don't think much could be said as everything is mired and bogged down in typicality and with a lack of individuality. The exhibition shows its strengths but also displays its weaknesses which I believe should be approached and rectified for the next batch of senior work.

- Erik Ellickson

Stallings is standout

Tidal Exhibition
The Art Place

From the many works displayed at the "Tidal Exhibition at the Art Place", Morgan Stallings work is what caught my eye. One piece that generally was appealing to me was a dragon carved out of a single piece of wood. This piece shows that he puts a lot of time and effort into his work. He also had a few photographs he had taken on display. One in particular was of a campfire with blue flames.

Though the pieces at the show were strong, the way it was presented, and the space it was presented in, did not appeal to me. If I had not been assigned to attend the show, I would not have gone.

-- Sarah Kellner

Tidal Exhibtion Part 2 at KSU

Tidal Exhibition at Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University Fine Arts Gallery is hosting a senior show composed of student artists. The show includes a great display of what the amazing art program is bringing to students.
The show is titled “Tidal Exhibition” and can be seen in the gallery located in the Joe Mack Wilson building on the university’s campus. The gallery hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday and 7-9 p.m., Wednesday /Thursday evening. The reason for the show being displayed is to advertise the artists’ work and get their name “out there”.
This show says a lot about the artists themselves. It is filled with personal expression. The majority of artwork displayed was paintings and graphite or ink drawings. Other mediums were included such as sculpture, ceramics, and many more. I found this show had variety. Each artist included their knowledge of elements of design, such as line and value. The show went far beyond average student work. “Tidal Exhibition” crossed into the depths of imagination and creativity. I enjoyed seeing the potential of these KSU artists. I wish I could have had many more hours to take in all of the wonderful works.
There was 3 artists’ work that caught my eye. Jessica E. Blinkhorn’s “Ponder” immediately grabbed my attention. The realism in the eyes of the subject’s face was incredible. In fact, the eyes were so realistic they looked as though they were wet. Blinkhorn’s work showed deep emotion, which is one way I connect to an artwork.
Sarah Daly’s work was so unique I could not help but comment on it. Several of her works were made using maps. My favorite was titled “Map 21: Metro Areas and Vicinity, 1997”. The base coat was a map and the figure was oil paint on top. The mix gave the appearance of veins under the skin. It was fascinating to look at.
You cannot miss Brandon Crawford’s work. Much of her work displayed larger than life-size nude oil paintings. I was in awe with “Nude 1”. The hands and arm were amazing because of the realistic veins and creases. The values used really made the work pop out.
Overall, I give the show 2 thumbs up. Well-done Kennesaw State University artists!

-Erin Taylor

Student art show 1

at : the art place
oct 13th -nov 11th

The student art show was not very impressive.  There were only a couple of people in the show that I was impressed with.  One of the people in the show that I enjoyed was Alison m. Golden.  She was the only person in the show that seemed to have control over a broad variety of media.  Her piece entitled Mother’s Pearle was very impressive.  It was a watercolor that was very lifelike.  The lace in the picture looked as though you could pick it up. 
            I was also impressed with the computer graphics of most of the students, but I have seen much better.  One digitally altered piece was entitled “candy striper.”  This piece by Phillip Steadham was very colorful.  I did not really like the subject mater, but I was drawn to the colors.  All of his work was very colorful but I did not care for much of it.
            The piece that I was most impressed by was Morgan Stallings wood sculpture.  It was entitled “Norse Dragon” and was very interesting and as soon as I saw the price I knew why I liked it.  I am always drawn to the most expensive piece in the show.
            Overall I was not impressed with the show but there were a lot of nice works there.

Katie Shipley

On Ideas at the Senior Expo v1.0

On Ideas at the Senior Expo v1.0

Tidal Exhibition 2005
The Art Place @ Mountain View
October 13-November 11, 2005

When one walks into The Art Place and glimpses at the first installment of this year's Senior
Show, one feels a total loss. Some works, but even fewer students, stand out. Some are exquisitely beautiful, perfectly defining originality, skill, and imagination. Others look like they were done by the summer camp classes down the hall. The strength of the very few don't even begin to support the remaining work. Filled with mundane and hackneyed paintings and photographs along with sophomoric design pieces, few artists stand out. Kenneth Adams' pieces are stellar, in point Falling Forward, an amazingly simple yet stunning piece of brilliance. Phillip Steadham's powerful and image-laden series of paintings and relief provided the much-needed eye-candy of the show. And Norse Dragon, Morgan Stallings' sculpture piece. Much of the photo work, seems generic and trite. Some even look like mistakes. The compositions are unappealing, clichéd, or blurry. Not blurry-with-the-artistic-purpose-of-enhancing-the-image-with-a-particular-feel blurry, just an indistinct blur. The graphic design pieces are incredibly stale. They seem forced, like they tried too hard, and failed. As a whole, everything lacks originality.

And that's the overwhelming failing trait prevailing amongst the majority of the work here.

Originality.

The unique ideas of concept.

Conceptualization isn't a skill that can be honed in lower division classes - classes that are filled
with still-life's, figure drawings, and book assignments. So the focus should fall on upper division criteria. There needs to exist conceptualization classes, one for every field of study. Classes that will explore the students inner soul, expand on their talents, and transform them into Artists. Still, undergraduate requirements also need to be reexamined. Advisors (and professors) need to be honest with students - some of us taking up class space in this building are just not meant to be here. Maybe a stricter entry policy or even a practical portfolio class would help. Or the realization that just because one got an 'A' on an assignment doesn't mean it's portfolio worthy. Because most of the work displayed here is not professional, but rather looks like a class assignment. There is no imagination here. There is no evidence of students pushing boundaries or even just exploring their own limits.

If this reflects Kennesaw's Visual Art Department's highest achievement, it is certainly not
something to be proud of.




-s.t.

Kennesaw State Senior Exhibition

The Art Place..10/13-11/11
KSU exhibit of class assignments.....

I had the great joy of driving to the KSU art show which was not a fun or enjoyable trip. Hindsite...I should have waited for the show on campus. Anyways, it was clearly a hang-up of previous class assignments from the senior class, and not some of the best. The collection of art did not seem to have any real heart put into it. I am sure that each artist has produced better work, but the people that picked these out for the show should be to blame. I feel that it does not show the real talent that is attending KSU.

The collection of art consisted of paintings, digital design(eww...There must be better), wood sculpture,ceramics, photography(there has to be better lying around)etc... If anything, it was an art show to display what kind of classes that are offered at KSU. I hope that this is not all that KSU produces at a senior level.

My favorite pieces were the mahogany wood sculptures by Morgan Stallings.I believe one was called "Norse Dragon"??? It seemed like there was more put into those pieces than most of the others. I have never worked with wood, so who am I, but I enjoyed them. The digital design pieces were a little disappointing. They seemed to be works that were done at a Freshman level.One was displayed with a typo...All in all, the next show needs a better display of skill.
LO-

The Unexpected?

Tidal Exhibition 2005
The Art Place-Mountain View
October 13-November 11, 2005


As a critic I would say there was nothing unexpected from the show. Although there were some pieces that stood out to me as interesting. "Marie" created by Alison M. Golden captured the innocence of a beautiful child. The photograph gave the feeling of mystery and sorrow for the child, but it also gave the feeling of curiosity. The lighting and composition complimented each other greatly. It left me wanting to see more work like this from Alison. Another piece I was fond of was the ceramic design called "Mmmhh Design is Kinky" by Kenneth Adams. Everything about this piece is fun. The colors, structure, and even the name itself gives an exciting, happy mood.

There were graphic design pieces that caught my eye, but I do not know enough about this area to critique or review it. I am looking forward to the next Kennesaw Senior art show, and hoping to see more aesthetically pleasing artwork that represents the fine arts program we have at Kennesaw State.


Kayla Thomason

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