If you’re planning to be in the UTM Fine Arts building anytime soon, you should make a stop in the gallery to see a plethora of unique student works.
The exhibit, hosted annually by the League of Striving Artists, is titled this year as “Contrast, Duality, and Stagnation” and features around 80 pieces from students at UTM.
The exhibition deals with compositions that address the “conventions of contrast and duality” in art and the, “importance of difference and uniqueness in the work of an artist,” according to the LSA Facebook page.
There was an incredible variety of artworks displayed, using many different styles and mediums. A graphic design piece titled Just Another Friday by student Bria McCay, is presented in four panels, each with a view of a living room with real life headlines appearing on a television set, each showing a recent, tragic news story.
“I got the idea from the show name…Specifically from the word stagnation,” says McCay. “It made me think of things that don’t change nationally and globally, so I addressed problems that we seem to have repeatedly. I chose the setting (a living room) to convey the idea of complacency, or that we see these terrible things happening and it’s just another day because of how frequent they are.”
“The whole idea is that there are so many issues that need to be addressed more so that they can be prevented instead of trying to repair what’s broken,” McCay continued.
McCay’s words seemed to be reflected by many of the other works, such as a mixed media piece titled Happy Family by student Praise Petters, that reads “Old People Don’t Care – Youth Approve Youth.” The contrast of black, harsh shapes againsts a brighter background, as well as depictions of mangled bodies, skulls and more seems to suggest a darker view of our generation and how we will have to address as we grow.
The exhibit will be open daily from 1-5 p.m. until Feb. 22.
Just Another Friday by Bria McCay |Pacer Photo / Grey Lipscomb
