review – Art Criticism

Valdosta National 2021

Rasheem Callender

When visiting the Valdosta National over at www.vsugallery.org, viewers are met with information regarding this show’s conception. The Valdosta National is an annual competition and it is hosted by Valdosta State’s Dedo-Maranville Fine Arts Gallery. The competition is open to all artists over eighteen living in the US and the goal is to present the best of the best entered in the competition. The work presented is all media contemporary art made in the last five years. Due to the global pandemic, this year’s show was held at the gallery’s online space instead of the physical space that students and staff are used to. This year the show was juried and judged by Claire Dempster, and she selected a total of 70 works by 60 artists out of the total of 875 works that were submitted.

Bold Colors. Bold Meanings.

By: Anna Roberts

In her artist statement Margi Weir talks about how her body of work, The Politics of Hue, is not meant to change anyone’s opinion on the chosen socio-political topic. Rather, Weir wants viewers to leave questioning their own thoughts. This exhibition, located at the Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery in Valdosta, Georgia, like many of her work, has underlying meaning to it. All the works presented in the gallery involved Weir’s response to and engagement with the world around her. Her works are visually inviting to the viewer. The repetitive patterns and bold color make viewers wonder how deep the symbolism goes behind her pieces. Many of her works are based around the idea of textiles, or rather stitching together digital patterns to make them visually appealing. She brings these ideas to life by using acrylic, Plexiglas, and vinyl.

VSU Faculty Exhibit: a Review

By Maria Jaime

The Dedo-Maranville fine arts gallery located at Valdosta State University, held an exhibition giving their faculty and staff the opportunity to display their works. I had the chance to give the gallery a visit. Nestled in the tall pine trees of South Georgia, one wouldn’t think such talent could be in such a small town. Continue reading VSU Faculty Exhibit: a Review