By Brittany Hawkins
The Valdosta National Exhibition, located in Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery at Valdosta State University, is a show that presents the best in contemporary art in an annual national all-media competition. The show is open to anyone over the age of eighteen and with submissions from all over the United States. The exhibition is a juried show and three winners were chosen at the end of the opening night and at least hundred dollars was awarded. The judge and jury was Michael McFalls who is a Professor of Art at Columbus State University and a practicing artist.
When first walking into the exhibition, the gallery space itself was very open on the floor, not an area for sitting but walking space to get a full view of the sculptures displayed in the middle of the gallery floor. However, as a viewer, walking into the gallery became overwhelming when looking at the walls and seeing how crowded with work they are. There were artworks right next to each other with very little space in between each one. For a viewer, who enjoys viewing a piece of work and focusing on taking in every detail, the fullness of the walls becomes distracting with other works of art. Although in some cases, the layout of specific pieces McFalls places next to each other connects and complements in subject matter, creating a nice balance in the exhibition. On the other hand majority of the pieces that were placed together did not complement or fit with the pieces around them, causing disconnect with the flow of the exhibition when viewing the work.
The Valdosta National is a show with the goal of showcasing work across all media’s and subject matter and immediately stepping into the gallery there is a huge variety of works and something different for each viewer to enjoy. In the show this variety of media including sculpture, printmaking, painting, mixed media and photography, catches your attention right away to explore what all the show has to offer. Although the exhibition did not have a cohesive body of works with similar themes, it is intriguing to see all the different styles of art come together in one space. McFalls emphasizes the wide range of different styles within the show through multiple contrasting themes and illustrates that each piece in the show is unique. Two pieces that do a great job of highlighting variety within the show, are Blessings by Richard Pruett in contrast to Ottoman #2 by Meg Aubrey. Pruett showcases two large mixed media pieces that he describes as “acrylic and cannibalized painting parts”, and just as the word cannibalized alludes to, his work reflects a mood of chaos and destruction. Pruett is able to achieve doing so, by expressive mark making that is reminiscent of both Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. The pieces contrast of organic and
geometric shapes paired with recognizable imagery, such as body parts, expressed a very wild composition. However, these pieces were still successful and seemed to have much thoughtful consideration behind how the artist was putting them together. The excitement of looking up close at the piece and finding all different hidden details and textures helped highlight the “Cannibalized” theme stated in the title of the piece. In contrast to Meg Aubrey who shows a clear attention to style and simplicity, her Ottoman #2 piece has delicate care to mark making and the composition of her subject matter. The placement of both the pink ottoman and blue purse on a white open background space seems very intentional to the composition compared to Pruett who had no intention at all in order to convey his theme of chaos. While differing from Pruett, the designed and stylized quality of both the ottoman and purse in Aubrey’s piece reflects the constant changes in fashion in society. Aubrey addresses a theme of Modernism in her piece and illustrates the hopes of fashion in today’s society, and how big of a role that plays in art and design.
The design and layout of a gallery floor can make or break an experience of the viewer when first walking in, and McFall successfully gives an interactive experience for the viewer through the sculptures present in the middle of the gallery space. Since the gallery maximizes the wall space with two dimensional art, the interaction of walking around and in between sculptures on the floor added extra excitement for the viewers of the show. The works of Jason Lee, I , and Room without a Window, allow for
interaction of the whole entire piece and invites the viewer to look at them from multiple different angles. Lee’s sculptures are free standing structures of both bunk beds and an enclosed window and are simple geometric shapes and colors and evoke much thought and interpretation from the viewer on the theme of Lee’s work. In comparison to Lee, artist Jason Guynes’s , when viewing has many interpretations of subject matter and require the viewer to contemplate the meaning behind this work. Guynes’s piece is a large oil painting of a dinner table setting where a group of people take part in fellowship and eating, however the figures at the table are all the artist himself. When first looking at the work and referring to the title of the piece, easily a viewer would conclude the piece reflects isolation or loneliness that the artist feels. One aspect that adds a different perspective to the piece are flying dollar bills running
through the middle of the dinner scene. Guynes opens the idea of reflecting time is money and something of value that should not be wasted, allowing for the viewer to walk away with multiple interpretations of his work.
The Valdosta National aims to showcase a variety of contemporary work from all over the country, varying in media and theme. Michael McFall the juror for the 2019 exhibition showcased a diverse body of works from photography, to sculpture and even folk-art to create a truly interesting exhibition for his viewers. The individual works of art in the gallery each are unique and nothing like the one next to it. Although in some areas of the exhibition layout of the works are cramped and distracting to others around them, the Valdosta National successfully provides a commendable interactive viewing experience within the exhibition worth visiting in person.
Brittany Hawkins is a Junior Art Major at Valdosta State University. Upon graduation with her Bachelors degree in Fine Arts in May of 2020, Hawkins would like to pursue a Master’s of Fine Arts. Her passion includes both drawing and photography, but she continues to explore multiple media’s including painting and printmaking, which she also enjoys. She wants to use art as a platform to spread awareness of self love and beauty within Black Women and her on community.