The taste of raspberries lingers on my tongue as I stare into the soul of the painting that is hung before my eyes.
Last Friday evening, the Atkinson Gallery basked in the artwork that filled its naked, white walls.
Atkinson Gallery Director Sarah Cunningham, who has been curating exhibitions at City College since 2012, welcomed visitors and fellow faculty at the doors as the crowds started to pour in.
Every other year, the gallery hosts “The Art Faculty Biennial,” which features the remarkable artwork from the colleges art department faculty members and gleams light into how talented the art professors here truly are.
This year, it showcases 20 extraordinary works of art – from sculptures to paintings to drawings and mixed media.
The piece, “Turn Time” created by Liv Aanrud, textile artist and collage instructor, is more than meets the eye. It’s made from flannel and burlap that is woven together to make a beautiful labyrinth of color.
The work takes on a butterfly-like shape, with innovative textures, exceptionally bright colors and one huge story to tell.
The vast unique butterfly shape makes for a stunning statement piece that struck up many conversations amongst spectators.
As soon as the doors opened to the public, groups of people swarmed into the gallery making for an impressive opening night.
However, it was drawing instructor Michelle Onstot’s piece, “Again and Again and (detail)” that had me hypnotized.
The $1,500 piece was extraordinary. In a shattered glass window, the image of graphite, drawn hands is realistically portrayed with only a thin line of red string connecting them in a blood-like stream.
The attention to detail made the hands come alive, the broken window seem merely like an accident, yet made everything appear connected in a sort of symbiotic relationship.
Not once did the crowd ease up, with a constant flow of people it made for a very pleasurable time while conversing about the different works of art.
There was nothing like it, the cast aluminum sculpture “If not one, then the other,” fashioned by sculpture Professor Ed Inks is effortlessly wicked.
It is a new breed of mutant – stacks of orbs one by one with a tarnished shell of malicious behavior. They seamlessly fit on top of each other like they were meant to be there.
It may be miniature, but “The Hero’s Journey” crafted by art Professor, Thomas Larson, is filled with valiant graphics and is nothing less than spectacular.
Constructed with resourceful materials such as cardboard, string and paper – the tiny journal holds picturesque illustrations, captivating handwriting and imaginative handouts that made anybody wish they were first mates on the journey of a lifetime.
They were absolutely stunning – the way the invisible brushstrokes of colors sashayed on the canvas.
The beautifully illustrated oil on canvas painting, “Lambs,” by assistant insturctor, Laura Krifka is so enchanting one gets lost within its walls.
Delectable raspberries and the mesmerizing scenery of trees, butterflies and red curls makes it easy to become entranced at such an incredible painting for a long period of time.
The Atkinson Gallery will be featuring this exhibit until Sept. 26 in the newly remodeled Humanities building.
