Noa-Sage Patrick
The Valdosta National Annual Juried Exhibition is being shown in the Dedo Maranville Gallery on the campus of Valdosta State University. According to the Juror of Art Spoken, Olivia Richardson shared that Art Spoken is, “a show shedding light onto the underrepresented voices and perspectives of artists across the United States and showcasing the talented students at Valdosta State University.”[1] The exhibition featured artists such as Rick Yasko, Christine Hunt, and Stanley Obert and VSU students such as A’Shadrian Clayton, Vanessa I. Chavez, and Simon Gunnarson.
According to the selected juror, Olivia Richardson, in the context of the chosen mediums, the goal of Art Spoken was to showcase submissions of music, dance, spoken word and poetry in hopes that those pieces would transform and hold new meaning beyond their original intent. Pieces were “chosen for their storytelling, their potential for challenging conversations, and their artistic vision.” Within her juror statement Ms. Robinson urged patrons to remember all the histories, art, and “people lost to extreme violence in Palestine, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.” Amongst all that Ms. Robinson discussed within her juror statement, this felt most out of place; mainly because she speaks about “individualism, racial/cultural similarities and differences, connectedness, vulnerability and societal development” but this statement provides no context or connection to the purpose of this exhibition. The topics that Ms. Richardson is discussing within her juror’s statement regarding the intent of the artworks that were chosen were not in alignment with her urge to the audience by stating the “As folks gather in the Dedo Maranville Arts Gallery to celebrate the experiences and stories of these incredible artists, please remember all the histories, art, and people lost to extreme violence in Palestine, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, unfortunately, to name a few.”[2]
Aside from the displeasure of the juror’s statement, the ambience of the gallery was quite the opposite. As patrons step into the gallery, they are greeted with the stark whiteness of the walls. Once the starkness subsides, patrons are immediately greeted by the For the People by The People by Seongmin Yoo which doubles as the artwork that is displayed on the Art Spoken flyer. This painting is composed of approximately five figures that range in shades of the full color spectrum. Each figure resembles organic yet abstract features that are comparable to grown sized men or frogs. These figures are dancing or moving into a formation that suggests that the figures are meshing into one another. This painting is composed of brightly colored figures with hints of red, yellow, brown, pink, green and blue. It is difficult to decipher the true nature of these figures based on their composition. This artist did not submit an artist statement for patrons to read to gather more information which results in the patrons creating their own assumptions on the meaning, intentions, interpretations, and purpose of the overall piece.
Seongmin Yoo, For The People by The People,
Ink, oil and rice paper on canvas 18″ x 24″ x 1″ 2022.
If a patron were to follow along the flow of the gallery, they would experience a myriad of other 2-dimensional drawings, 3-dimensional decoupage vases, portrait paintings, and a sculptural piece made of wood. Since this exhibition is composed of both student work and featured artists, most of the student work is aligned on the back wall and the wall that is diagonal to the entrance. One specific part of the gallery that interrupts the flow of the gallery is the nook in the back of the gallery which houses the decoupage vases and the juror’s statement. Initially, it seemed odd to have the juror’s statement hung up on the wall in the most secluded section within the gallery. On the contrary, this could have been a ploy to get patrons to take a beat and ponder on what they have seen so far and increase engagement with the decoupage vases.
The gallery is lit in a way that makes the patrons realize how the spotlights are assembled in a rectangular grid that distributes light that covers every inch of the space, except for the decoupage nook because the vases have their own light features embedded within the structure. Most of the art pieces here are framed or on canvas so although each piece is different, they all have the same appeal. There is an abundance of color inside of each piece which becomes a bit overwhelming once the nuance of color wears off. The most colorful piece is study for the Death of Nessus by Larry Sheffield. The sky of this print is decorated in a gradient of a deep red-orange backdrop expanding from left to right, across the top portion of the print which is streaked with teal blue clouds. It is as if the color depth is there to offset the harshness of the subject of the painting. This piece feels psychedelic, eccentric, and immersive which brings forth a sense of responsibility and empathy for humanity, other races, and countries within the world. Based upon the artist’s statement and the feelings that arise when witnessing this piece, it can be assumed that the artist did achieve their intentions. Addressed in his artist statement, Sheffield’s art “seeks to draw parallels between the hidden messages of power and identity in Greco-Roman mythologies, and their contemporary relevance in identity theories.”
Amongst the artworks that are presented in this exhibition, there are only a few that can be considered as meeting the expectations of the purpose for the exhibition. First, Study for the Death of Nessus by Larry Sheffield displays a majestic figure charging through battle. This figure is known as Nessus, a centaur whose skin is enrobed richly in melanin, the physique of a well-fit and muscular man from his neck down to the bottom of his torso. His body is that of a zebra that is seated on top of a rock. Surrounding him is a sky that is composed of the most vibrant teal and red-orange clouds, these clouds suggest a dystopian viewpoint of the perceived landscape. To the left of Nessus stands another centaur holding a bow and arrow while holding a female figure captive, for defiance or protection. As the eye scans the painting, varying details are being displayed like large green leaves that cover the rock that Nessus is perched upon. Nessus himself is draped in a black fabric which is also tied to his right bicep. A golden rope is around his neck which he has clasped in his left hand. A medical staff containing fluid bags is dissecting his body and a large arrow is piercing out from his back and through his abdomen. This painting is placed in a large frame, bordered with white contact paper, and housed in the middle of the gallery wall diagonal to the main entrance. This painting is 27″x 47″ x0″ and the style of painting is called serigraphy which is a form of silkscreen printing. Although the painting was made by screen printing, the pieces selected resemble a work that was made using charcoal, oil and chalk pastels, colored pencils, and gold dust.
Larry Sheffield, Study for the Death of Nessus, Serigraphy 27″x 47″ x 0″ 2023
According to Sheffield’s artist statement and website, he re-appropriates the nuances of classical art, by creating stories that emphasize brutality and the disregarded. His works display beauty, wealth, intellect, and grace. Sheffield gives an account of history and politics from a viewpoint of inclusion for those who were ostracized and forgotten.
This exhibition is one that was difficult to fully enjoy. Based on the juror’s intent of the chosen artwork, the purpose of the exhibition itself, the art pieces that were displayed in the gallery and the role that they play when relating to the purpose of the exhibition. In addition to this, the juror’s underwhelming statement about the state of certain countries had no relevance to the show at all. Considering all aspects of this experience, it can be concluded that this exhibition caused more confusion than intrigue.
[1]Richardson, “Art Spoken is…”, https://valdosta.edu/colleges/arts/art/gallery/artspoken.php.
(Date Accessed April 7, 2024)
[2] Richardson, Olivia, “As folks gather, https://valdosta.edu/colleges/arts/art/gallery/artspoken.php.
(Date Accessed April 7, 2024)