In a city rich with artistic creativity, Ohio State students don’t have to travel far for culture.
Art is reflective of cultural currents, political commentary and general observations. In the Hopkins Hall art gallery, graduate students voice their concerns through every medium ranging from ceramics to photography.
“Art is hard, not because we want recognition for our work. We’re really trying to work with real issues in contemporary culture,” said Shauna Merriman, co-chairwoman of the graduate art exhibit. “You have to be socially and politically aware. Constantly developing writing skills to articulate the work, with a piece you have to back it up conceptually.”
Both Merriman and Anja Bruggeman are the student chairwomen responsible for coordinating approximately 50 graduate students’ work for the gallery. Prudence Gill, director for Hopkins gallery, said she is excited by the annual graduate display.
“Part of the excitement about this exhibition is it’s vital. Grad students are doing their work in the studios,” Gill said. “When people come to see the show, they see things come together tangibly with the students’ research, and it’s exciting.”
The rigorous program in OSU’s art department leaves students scrambling to keep up with the pace of conducting research reflective of the social and political climate surrounding them.
“I teach a class with 18 students five days a week. I spend eight hours a day working on art, so I work 12 to 15 hour days. It’s a rigorous program where you’re responsible to show art in other galleries, working and being involved in your community and school. It can be a little hard,” Merriman said.
David Foster, a first year graduate student in art and technology, said he understands the difficulties balancing priorities while working on time consuming projects. Foster said his robotic flower exhibit entitled “Photuris Muscipula” — the Latin words for venus flytrap and lightning bug — deals with the “duality” of life.
With an emphasis on territory, Foster creates a work that is seemingly pleasant or inviting, but, in truth is threatening at the same time.
“It’s the times we’re living in, and it’s pretty messed up. Taking a plant and an insect, people would find that weird, but stranger things are going on in science,” Foster said.
These artists continually challenge themselves to gain skills in a range of mediums.
“A big part of the program is it’s interdisciplinary, with a lot of cross-over. A strong part of the program at OSU is they’re really open to art, people don’t come in with a single skill that they’re bound by,” Merriman said.
The graduate exhibition opening is from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight. Food and refreshments will be available. The exhibition runs until January 31.
