He crouched down on the floor with his back against the couch, laughing as we each yelled “Can you hear me now?” into the microphones of our respective laptops. Isaac Wright, a current senior artist in the Valdosta State, Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery exhibition “In Bold,” sat down with me to discuss his livelihood as a maker, as well as his work as a whole. Amid a pandemic that has shaken the world, it has become apparent that the arts are also not immune to panic and have felt the ramifications of a slowing world. Isaac discusses not only how his sleep schedule has been impacted but also his motivation, workspace, artwork, and mindset.
Finding a Sense of Home Within the Valdosta National 2020 Exhibition
By: Harlee E. Webb
Valerie Aranda, Caminos/Paths (Mosconi town), Acrylic on canvas
This year the 32nd annual “Valdosta National” All-Media Juried Exhibition was held at Valdosta State University in the Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery. This specific exhibition contained a variety of artwork from all over the country showcasing contemporary visual art from 50 artists representing 25 states. From the ceramics studio down the hall, one could hear the chatter of numerous guests, waiting to enter the gallery. Students covered in paint came fleeing towards the gallery in swaths– so too did men and women in business attire– all of them piling in through the glass door. Having maneuvered my way through the throng, I found myself amongst the menagerie of artwork– some extremely pleasing, and others shocking to behold. This exhibition was diverse in media, style, and subject matter, so much so that it felt overwhelming. The richness of this exhibition served not only to showcase the talents of the artists from 25 states, but also to provoke discourse between those attending.
This year the 32nd annual “Valdosta National” All-Media Juried Exhibition was held at Valdosta State University in the Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery. This specific exhibition contained a variety of artwork from all over the country showcasing contemporary visual art from 50 artists representing 25 states. From the ceramics studio down the hall, one could hear the chatter of numerous guests, waiting to enter the gallery. Students covered in paint came fleeing towards the gallery in swaths– so too did men and women in business attire– all of them piling in through the glass door. Having maneuvered my way through the throng, I found myself amongst the menagerie of artwork– some extremely pleasing, and others shocking to behold. This exhibition was diverse in media, style, and subject matter, so much so that it felt overwhelming. The richness of this exhibition served not only to showcase the talents of the artists from 25 states, but also to provoke discourse between those attending.
