Student Independent Show at CIA
Joe and I went to see this year's version of the annual show put together by students at the Cleveland Institute of Art. It's usually a lively collection of work ranging from finely-wrought jewelry to outrageous painting, drawing and sculpture. In recent years video and computer-based work has begun to show up.
This year's show was a disappointment. There seemed to be fewer works than usual, and only a couple grabbed me as either beautifully executed or fresh and original in concept.
One
of my favorites, a detail shown here, is titled The Historic
Romanticism Of an Epic Sailor's Tale, by Katie Loesel.
It's a large piece that's part map, part journal. I love the energy and personality shown by the handwriting and freely drawn and colored lines and shapes.
I watched several videos in a room set aside for this purpose, and gave up when the film of a toy monkey banging cymbals seemed to go on forever. And ever.
Art videos are an
acquired taste, for sure, but this one didn't work for me. I need at least
a little storytelling to stay interested.
At least one piece fits the outrageous description, and was well-executed too. The monoprint by Nathan Margoni, one of a set of eight or so, caught the attention of everyone who walked by.
Men in particular seemed to wince.