‘Light Matters’ in latest artworks exhibition

Students present photographs, art work in new gallery show

By Laura Becker, contributing writer
Posted on November 1, 2007

Students filed into the artWorks Gallery on Grace Street Monday night and were treated to an impressive display of photography, whispering comments such as “I like that one” and “I want to try that technique now.”

From cut up images contained in clear Christmas ornaments to a display of collages called “Exquisite Corpses,” the opening reception of “Light Matters: A Group Show by Advanced and Intermediate Photography Students” gave visitors to the gallery not only a look at some of the art produced by students, but also a chance to check out the work of visiting artist Gina Fuentes Walker in the New Image Gallery, a separate but attached room in the artWorks Gallery.

“[Light Matters] is a group show done by so many different people,” photography professor Corrine Diop said. “The title was named in class after the common denominator of light—because photography is always based on light.”

A clear reflection of the title is Walker’s work, which includes several collections of tiny transparent photos mounted in Plexiglas. Another interesting method that allows light to travel through pictures is called the “packaging tape” technique.

Junior Christine Bolon learned the technique at a summer camp and taught it to her photography class for a presentation grade. According to Diop, the technique was a hit and was used by many of the students featured in the show.

“Print out an image on regular paper and put packing tape over it, rub it on, then soak it in water and peel the paper off,” Bolon said.

Other interesting twists to photography included the piece “Antiques” by junior Jessica Payne, where Payne used junk she had found in her garage to create a funky approach to capturing an old-fashioned bicycle. The bike is on top of bright fuschia grass and leans on a dark green brick wall, with a round yellow railroad sign taking the place of the front tire.

“I combined two photos, one of a bike and one of a railroad sign, and Photoshopped the colors to make them look unnatural,” Payne said.

This is artWorks second year, and the gallery is still working to gain more student recognition. Senior Tim Skirven, the artWorks director, encourages students to support the arts on campus.

“I think people just forget we’re here,” Skirven said.

Located at the end of Grace Street, the gallery is an easy walk from campus and is directly across from the art studio. Open from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, the gallery always contains student work. The “Light Matters” show will be available until Nov. 10.