Large-scale sculptures, photographs, paintings, artistic projections and animations, all featured on a webpage, will be on display for free starting today.
A collection of 21 pieces from students studying photography, painting, ceramics, graphic design, print making and sculpture will be on display in the Ohio University Art Gallery until Nov. 19 as part of the Second Year Graduate Student Exhibition, Making Thinking.
The exhibition's title came from the belief that graduate school teaches artists to think critically and then learn how to visualize those thoughts.
“Making Thinking is something that comes out of an educational pedagogy,” said Kyle Triplett a second year graduate student studying ceramics. “We are being taught how to think and then we learn how to create things technically. It’s not vocational.”
Along with showing one of his pieces, Triplett helped curate the exhibit. It was important to plan the exhibit spatially by thinking about color and scale and trying to make sure people from the same department were not placed right next to each other.
“A part of art making is the expectation that people will view it,” Triplett said. “It’s good to get art out of the studio and into the public sphere.”
Graduate students studying art are able to present their work in a group exhibit in their first and second years. These exhibitions lead up to their solo thesis exhibit during their third year.
“It’s a really good chance to see what contemporary art is being made,” said Natalie Preston, a third year painting graduate student and gallery assistant. “As the artists are students, it’s less intimidating and gives people the opportunity to talk to the artist.”
Although the students whose work will be on display as part of Making Thinking usually work alone, the group exhibits they put on every year let them see what their classmates are creating.
“For me, it was interesting to do a collaborative thing,” said Andrew Kosowski, a second year graduate student studying painting. “It’s cool to see what they’ve been up to and how their ideas have changed in the past year.”
Making Thinking opens tomorrow during regular gallery hours, and is open to the public. A reception will celebrate the exhibit tomorrow from 6-8 p.m. and will feature snacks and drinks and give attendees the chance to interact with the artists.
