Chaos perfectly fits the Art and Design Department Faculty exhibit. There is incredible diversity in medium as well as style. This impressive show has a second opening reception on Friday, Nov. 4, from 5 -9 p.m. at the downtown CMU Art Gallery located at 437 Colorado Ave. Although this show includes quite a few artists, we are only discussing the following- KyoungHwa Oh, Eli Hall, Forrest Zerbe and Allison Harris. We urge you to go and see the other artist’s work for yourself!
KyoungHwa Oh is the ceramics professor. She featured a piece in the show titled “Water Drops #2.”
The small collective
pieces are influenced
from raindrops that
have fallen. The intricate detail that
has been carved into
each piece can be seen repeated hundreds of
times in each individual
section of the sculpture.
Initially they wanted to
hang it from the ceiling,
but Oh preferred that it
be laid out. The glazed sections are highlighted
with the colour of water
that Oh was trying to capture.
Another topic Hall choose to include was the words “F*** Racism” which should be self-explanatory. While first approaching the piece it is a bit terrifying with sharp axes and words, eventually you find a cohesion between the axe throwing and these confronting words. As a graphic designer, Hall showcases his emotional side with this piece of art.
Forrest Zerbe the digital photography professor exhibited multiple pieces, his work “Don’t Fly Away” is a collection of altered images of the same “Chubby little Cherubs.” This hanging installation can be seen from both sides, using poly archival
photo sleeves. Many referred to this as a shower curtain because of the plastic round rings that held the sleeves up.
Although we find brass rings would have fit the work better, this piece is far from a shower curtain. This intriguing work deserves the viewer’s attention beyond a glance, Zerbe’s uses repetition as a tool to bring the viewer in closer works in more ways than one.
Alison Harris a drawing professor showcased her painting “Scandal Eyes,” which mimics a pin-up. The large oil on canvas painting shows a confronting curvy woman wearing 50’s style clothing. In this pin-up style you won’t find her in a swimming suit or nude, instead you see sections
of her pink flesh peeking out. Harris’s work was criticized by current and former students for her usage of color and the disproportion of the woman’s body. We find her work echoes a style similar to the illustrations found on 30’s and 40’s style roadside billboards. Compared to the other works, Harris’s piece was fun and simplistic.
Overall we have incredible professors of art here. They have shown they can handle their medium and inspire students. That Would Be Chaos is a large eclectic show that really displays the creativity of our teachers. We encourage everyone to come out to the CMU gallery on Friday, Nov. 4, for the second opening, if anything come for the food and drinks.
Eli Hall, professor of Graphic Design, will instantly capture your attention with his piece “21 Feet.” The title refers to the distance of feet you must stand while throwing axes. Seven axes piercing through slices of a tree trunk is the primary part of this installation, accompanied by five strong worded expressions. This emotionally charged piece has an underlying theme of Hall’s views evolving through his life. The expression “I chose to be a good dad”
