By Sophie Anderson
“BECAUSE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CORONAVIRUS “ are the first words that draw my eye on the page of the senior exhibition and they ring loud through the whole virtual exhibition. There can be no doubt that this senior class has been challenged like no other. The senior show is something that every VSU art student looks forward to and simultaneously dreads their whole college career. The stress of finding the location to exhibit, designing the pamphlets to be printed and passed out, laying out all the artworks to create a cohesive show has been taken away for the students exhibiting in “In Bold” and replaced with a far greater pressure : a literal pandemic.
The header immediately declares this websites sole purpose for existing: Valdosta State Universities Virtual Exhibition. The design is minimal, black and white; the bright yellow logo of the “In Bold” exhibition pulls the eye down to the explaining that this is the safe virtual exhibition for the graduating artists and interior designers. Clicking on the in bold link directs to a happy group photo of the senior class, bursting with laughter and excitement, punctuated with touching paragraph about their exhibition. The last line talks about this show being a method of documenting their lives and art progress. This rings ironic and leaves me wondering if this was written before or after the cancellation of the in person gallery opening. This website seems to be much more literal document of the senior class then a material exhibition. It will remain online as a sort of web monument to these students who have sacrificed their big moment. Scrolling down leads to black and white portraits of the individual seniors. These pictures all capture the unique personality of the artists and feature little black doodles surrounding their bodies. A click on any of these will go to the individuals statements and portfolio.
A’niecia De Four is the first artist displayed. Her page is topped with a quote from Frida Kahlo a personal inspiration to her self-representative work. Her portfolio is a beautiful show case of alla prima self portraits, feminist printmaking about the nude female form, and naked ceramic figurines. Her goal is clearly not for women to just see A’niecia in these pieces but to see themselves reflected in them.
Chelsea Klewicki has the most distressing emotional work of the exhibition. She creates work about her role as a new wife and being a new mom. Gritty negative and the struggles of new motherhood are shown along the side the more endearing happy work about becoming someone’s mommy. “Life” is work that is physically painful to look at in the best way. It depicts the weathered body of a heavily pregnant woman. The paint is applied thickly to the point that large cracks appear on the surface: mimicking the stretch marks on pregnant woman’s breasts and stomach. Other works display her infant son proudly. This is not the portfolio of someone who just does not like motherhood; this is a woman who has clearly felt changed by her experience and is sharing that in a very vulnerable raw way.
Shelby Coulters work focuses on mass produced mediums that can be used to quickly spread her admitted propaganda. She does not mince words or come to her messages with polite quietness so often expected when women are talking. Her work explores themes of race, gender, and class inequality. “Aunt Sam” is the most succinct piece for this message. It parodies the iconic uncle sam poster with several different variations on hair and skin color that give individual characteristics to the mass produced work. At the bottom it demands the viewer pay attention the lack of women in power in the US.
This show is not half-baked. However the feeling of incompleteness looms over it. There is so much missing. I am missing the ceramic rural house of Isaac Wright, the face jugs of Alexis Bass, and so many more works I’m not even aware of that sit waiting for corona to pass to be completed. This is not the fault of the senior class who pulled off and amazing feet with this beautiful creative website that showcases everyone so well. It is only incomplete because I know this is what they had to compromise with and it feels completely unfair. What they have made is no doubt professional, beautiful, and something to be proud of but I cannot help but be heartbroken for them.