The exhibition Mixed Bag: An Assortment of Contemporary Art at Valdosta State University was very surprising. After walking around the gallery a few times I analyzed what I saw, and at first what seemed like confusion later developed into disappointment. Although I viewed some pieces that piqued my interest, I was not entirely pleased with the show.
The layout of the exhibition was somewhat bland and the art featured was unorthodox (in a way that I could appreciate but did not enjoy). The gallery had multiple neutral tones placed next to each other, which made it harder to disassociate from one piece in order to move on to another. I also would have liked to see more colorful pieces in the show, and with that being said the most colorful and intriguing piece was Max Adrian’s. His lively artwork titled, The Buddy Comm
unity, invoked multiple thoughts including sex, obedience, acceptance, and power. This piece consisted of multi-colored plush toys, wearing latex body suits, and covered in fur. There are twelve plush toys placed on four different pedestals in groups of three. Two groups have the figures all facing each other, and the other two have the figures turned away from each other. Each group is connected by chains that link their masks together. When I first stumbled onto this, I felt joyful and excited, the way one gets when you’ve been wanting something for a while and you finally receive it. I simultaneously felt a sense of rejection and disgust with myself. On one side you have all the masked figures hiding their identity but coming together and accepting their desires i.e. themselves, despite the taboo of it all. On the other side you have these same figures but they are turned away, almost as if they are rejecting who they are^ falling victim to fear. I thought my reaction to Adrian’s piece might have been a bit farfetched, but then I came across his artist statement. He mentions that he explores queer ideas of sexuality and identity. He plays on the topic as a way to better understand sexual desires and perceptions. After visiting his website, I can say he was able to communicate these thoughts and emotions successfully, not only for The Buddy Community but for all his artworks.
Emily Culver caught my eye with her piece, What She Saw When She Walked In. My initial thoughts when viewing this art
work were amazement, death, fear, and ultimately despair. Her piece was rectangular in shape and had small baby pink tiles within it. On top of these tiles were three bathtub stoppers. I was overcome with this feeling of dread which was similar to my reaction from the bathroom scene of the Alfred Hitchcock movie Psycho. There are so many trivial moments that have taken place in a bathroom and every one of these moments (for me) tied back into death. I was impressed with how much this seemingly simple piece could stir up this much emotion within me.
Aside from the pieces mentioned, there were none that I felt were worth viewing. Adrian and Culver’s work stood out as the only engaging pieces in the show, which left me feeling like I should have experienced more than what I got.
Bio: Viola is a senior at Valdosta State University. She is an Art Education Major and plans to use her degree to become an elementary school art teacher. Viola will graduate in December 2020 and wants to pursue her dream of teaching in New York.