The progression of the Winnie the Pooh bear in Barnett’s pieces shows the wear and tear that objects we use to soothe ourselves.
“Comfort Object” is a MFA thesis project exhibit created by Emily Anne Barnett to express “the conflict between internal and external forces.”
Barnett’s pieces explore the use of abstract lines and bright colors in depicting the life of a child who finds comfort within a stuffed Winnie the Pooh bear.
“Natura Morta” is an exhibit consisting of a multitude of still life paintings created by Annie Compean.
Compean organizes her paintings with color and abstract shapes, creating a vague but recognizable scene that deters from the typical.
Bright colors and intense shadowing trademark the paintings Compean chose to display at this week’s art galleries. Her art reflects the goal to “create objects that are nameless, but elude to the body or an organism,” which is mentioned in her artist’s statement.
The use of light assists in giving these eerily life-like sculptures the finishing touches of realism. Carradine has had multiple family members perform in circuses as well as Cirque. Thus, she uses this exhibit to give life to her fascination and awe of the performing lifestyle.
The pieces are sculpted to embody the movement and dynamic of actual performers.
A majority of Carradine’s ceramic pieces are vividly detailed and depict the various postures taken by Cirque performers
Carradine incorporates minor details into the sculptures, creating a 3-D costume for her “performers.”
Though the pieces seemed abstract in nature, they shared a general theme of being organic and flowing.
Roznovan used visual effects heavily reliant on dim lighting and abstract appearances of brightness to create a contrast between shadow and illumination.
Elena Roznovan created a gallery that explores her interpretations on the process of the creation of an idea. According to Roznovan’s artists statement, she was “interested in the ways in which an idea under minds itself as it develops.”
A spectator leans in to take a closer look at one of the pieces in Shumaker’s MFA thesis exhibit.
All the prints in Shumaker’s gallery were inspired by the way she found the pieces, randomly scattered and strangely assembled.
“Synoptikos” is the product of artist Ashley Shumaker’s fascination with the texture and array of fallen palm tree debris around Long Beach.
