Corcoran Gallery of Art – 2009 Senior Thesis Exhibit

Yesterday during lunch, I headed over to the Corcoran to see the Senior Thesis exhibit. Visiting this gallery always makes me nostalgic for art school. I was actually accepted to the Corcoran on scholarship, but declined after finding out I would still need to come up with $15,000 in tuition! But I digress.

Overall the exhibit was exceptional. My background is in fine art, so I always enjoy painting, photography and mixed media. Installation art still puzzles me to some extent. I appreciate it as an art form, but half the time I don’t full understand it, especially without an artist mission statement. To the students with the installation pieces – I’m sorry if I offend you.

A couple student pieces really captured my interest. Siobhan Hanna’s photographic portraiture was incredible. The photographs were clean, and extremely detailed. I would love to see the other pieces in this student’s photographic series.

My two other favorites were of course graphic design pieces. All of the design student pieces I saw were very cohesive. The posters were engaging, and the printed book/booklets that accompanied the posters were all phenomenal. I almost forgot that I was looking at undergraduate work! These pieces definitely looked like the work of seasoned professionals.

Yordan Silvera’s “The Art of Money” was brilliant. To accompany his mixed media posters, he also designed several little “money themed” booklets, which the viewer was allowed to touch and flip through. The printing of the booklets were outstanding, and the layout design very innovative.

Hannah Tak’s “Experimental Typography: Futurism and Post-Modernism” was really a step above the rest. Her in depth research piece focused solely on typography, and was truly a marvelous work of design. I enjoyed flipping through her book, and wished I could have had a copy for my own design book collection. I don’t think this student will have any trouble finding a design job post graduation. Any employer should be privileged to have her on the payroll.

Note to the design students: It would have been great if all of you included some ‘take-away’ self promotion pieces in your display. Major thumbs up to those that had business cards printed. Those self-promo pieces help visitors remember you, long after your gallery show is over.

My least favorite piece is of course - installation. No offense to this promising student, as I’ve stated my feelings on installation pieces at the onset. Elisabeth Arzt has an installation that appears to be two movable rubber phallic symbols, covering a Wii remote, boxing in a ring. Photo below. I was a little confused by this piece – but what do I know. Who am I to say what art ‘is’ or ‘isn’t’.

If you’re able, please stop by the Corcoran to view this exhibition before May 25th. The show is free, and it’s definitely a treat to see the works of these budding new artists and designers.

Elisabeth Arzt - All rights reserved.