Center Art Gallery
Spoelhof College Center
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 526-6271
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BFA exhibitions 2002
April 27:7:00-9:00 pm
Mariela Castillo: photography/ installation
Joel Leo: graphic design/ sculpture
Mirium Vandekooy: installation
Joel Leo's work is an exploration into the ways in which a viewer interacts
and approaches a piece. His work combines sculptural forms that act as frames
and displays that facilitate the interaction with graphic printed elements.
Using lines of perspective, space, distance, and visual phenomenon, Joel is
presenting an interactive composition that compels movements and decisions by
the viewer.
Mariela's main artist focus is in the field of photography. The subjects of
her black and white silver gelatin prints are individual Hispanics living in
the United States. The body of work she will be exhibiting in Calvin's gallery
shows the other face of America, the one that Americans often do not see. She
photographs the face of a culture that is a victim of racism and exploitation
habitually for living a different lifestyle. The large photographs show the
Hispanic immigrants in their private environments. This aids the viewer in capturing
a glimpse of a culture. Instead of seeing immigrant presence as a threat to
society, we instead must recognize the positive and needed contribution these
people add to American society.
Miriam works in both photography and creating installations with everyday materials
that are not usually associated with art. In both media she actively transforms
the function/s of the objects and materials she uses. The photographs are highly
contrasted black and white images printed as regular postcards. The postcards
will be distributed at various social gathering places around Grand
Rapids just before the show. The postcards do not act as advertisements or as
collectable postcards one might purchase at a museum. Instead they ask their
viewers to re-look at the simple napkins, forks and spoons that are the subjects
of the photographs. Miriam's wall covering are simple collections of a single
object or material distributed along the surface of a wall. This changes both
the wall and the material applied to its surface. Miriam's work engages its
viewers through its sensual quality. The desire to taste and touch and smell
is strong and if the viewer is allowing, reformed surfaces of egg cartons,
gelatin or toilet paper will inspire the contemplation of material and sensual
awareness.
These three artists have spent the past four years at Calvin College developing
their skills as visual expressers. Their work demands attention and interaction.
They ask that you come willing to fill the space that is designed for you; whether
you wish to be challenged to look at your thoughts and expressions in a new
light or simply enjoy the pleasures our senses were created to give.