College of Fine Arts 

Student showcase    

The Transpace is a student gallery that is open to all types of artists at Illinois State University Center for Visual Arts. This show, Soft Boiled, allowed many artists to come together to express their most recent work. The design of the gallery theorize a connection between the environment and the hanging artwork itself. I reflected on this instantly as I walked through the Gallery No. 2 while peering up at the student work. I also distinguished that it was not purposely intended to make me sense this concept the way I have. Yet the gallery left me feeling like it was connected to the drawings in some way. Perhaps it was the enclosed space viewers are in. This left myself sensing a world which peers into another world. 

 Figure 1. Strange Teeth                   Figure 2. Desert Snakes                          Figure 3. Cheap Steaks 

The microorganism-like gestures within the canvas space, shape their own limited world. The use of color and loose movement made it possible to interpret. These bacteria shaped images reside within their own, but come together collectively to create understanding and meaning. Within a selected piece, we can see there are many characters or shapes holding the face of the canvas. Once fixated on that shape, there are unique personalities to be considered. For instance, not every shape is mimicking the one next to it. The color, shape, placement are all thoughtfully sought to take on new context. 

The titles given to each piece alone suggest a story to be told within our consciousness. For the Figure 4 below, the title is Lost Clog. The piece holds bright colors that catch our eyes almost at an instant. These amusing works are created through a series of stencil and color layering. A lost tradition found along the streets of our cities and transportation vehicles. 

Figure 4. Lost Clog                                                                        Figure 5. Hi 5

As a whole, the student work was interesting to comprehend. It was refreshing to see a "lost" technique brought to light once again. One could take a trip and find endless variations of the work entirely. The movement, color, and placement of the bacteria-like figures hold true to their own universe. Take away the title of the piece  and there are endless reflections awaiting to be acknowledged. Theoretically mimicking the congruous space it was showcased was something personal I took with me. Unfortunately,  I could not find an artist statement or information about the artist at all, so I do not have their information to report. They left a brochure to explain titles of the works and to thank family and friends, but no name. 

By Erika Barber