Tag: Fine Arts

REVIEW: Alexandra Collins’s “Hyper Light”

RooneyRambles 1 Comment

Seeing Stars with Alexandra Collins’s Exuberant “Hyper Light”. 

On Friday February 16th, I had the pleasure of attending the opening reception of Stamps senior Alexandra Collins’s first solo exhibition “Hyper Light ”. The work is on display at The Common Cup, an Ann Arbor coffee shop on Washtenaw Avenue.  From still lifes of jello molds and glassware, to large zinging abstracts of flowers and shapes, the series is a colorful and bold exploration of the relationship between energy and tension.

“Red Jello on Purple Tablecloth”

Collins’s eye finds movement in stillness. Investigating the organic in the inorganic, she uses bold colors and streaky light to create energetic portraits of jello and glass. The tension between energy and stillness holds as a focal point in her still lifes like the horizon of a sea scape. The lively dynamic style contrasts and emphasizes the stillness of the subjects like a loud silence. Maybe you shouldn’t have ordered that second Mayan Mocha, or maybe you caught the jello jiggling from the corner of your eye.

 

“Superbloom”

Collins plays with the constraints of the canvas, in some works lining up several panels, in others tacking panels on in unexpected ways. The larger and more abstract pieces expand and challenge what can contain them. Pieces such as “Superbloom” are colorful menageries of plant life, bubbles and baubles, and streaks of light. Reminiscent of exploding stars and streaking galaxies, the arrangements represent a synthesis of color, shape, and form. The flowers are closed, and the paint around them vibrates and thrusts and sings like it just can’t be held anymore. Like the build up of a song with no release, we are held in those moments before explosion.

On a blustery February day, the basement location of the exhibition makes the colorful paintings feel like an underground secret, like spring charging beneath the earth. I felt a celebration and investigation of the feminine in the flower motifs and dining room still lifes. The celestial exuberance and energetic synthesis of shapes and color asking what feminine energy might look like, and where we could put it down. When I parked at a table for a few hours to sip coffee and send out piles of resumes and cover letters, I felt Hyper Lights hum resonating around me, not with the glory of the finish line, but with potential.

“Supernova”

“Hyper Light” will be on display at The Common Cup on Washtenaw Avenue for about two more weeks, until March 2nd. The paintings are an energetic and possibility expanding presence in the cafe, which is a great place to study or meet with friends. You can find more of Collins’s work on her website and instagram, or by attending Commence, a graduating senior exhibition held at the Stamps Gallery in April.

 

 

 

 

PREVIEW: Figment/Fragment: The 2023 Stamps School Senior Exhibition

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Last year at this time, I attended the 2022 Stamps Senior Exhibition. The range of mediums, subjects, and talents was astounding— there was every kind of artwork imaginable, from paintings to animation to interactive 4D exhibits. The Stamps school, in my personal opinion, does a subpar job of promoting student work; the walls and display cases are often empty, and the senior exhibition feels hidden away and not adequately promoted despite being held in the largest room in the middle of the Stamps building. As a Stamps student, too, I’m excited to attend student work exhibitions, but fellow students often either don’t attend or aren’t aware of the exhibition.

Last year’s exhibition blew me away— the exhibition space was an endless maze of large cubicles, each displaying the refined and deeply personal work of Stamps seniors. I loved how each student presented wildly different ideas, in wildly different forms— from found-object sculptures, to video game designs, to walls covered with curated images and sketches, sometimes incorporating sound or touch, or video. It was inspiring to see each personality shine through the work.

This year’s exhibition, titled Figment/Fragment, is bound to be just as exciting! It’s open from 11am-5pm on weekdays, and it runs through the end of April. There is also a closing ceremony at the end of the month— but, really, if you could stop by any time before it closes, it’s sure to be a worthwhile experience. It’s also a great way to connect with fellow U-M students and appreciate the endless talent of our campus community, which deserves a spotlight.

REVIEW: UMMA Illuminated

Christine Hildebrand 1 Comment

Amidst hours of late night studying at the library Thursday evening, I ventured from my quarantined corner of the UGLi in search of a break. My eyes tired, brain exhausted; I needed a distraction from falling asleep and a quick pick-me-up, especially considering I thoughtlessly gave up coffee for Lent. I completely forgot to take final exams into account before starting my eight-week deprival.
My lids felt heavier with each turn of an each index card. The last names melted into first names and dates began to jumble while sifting through eighty-five images. Each photograph held three pieces of information: artist, title, and date. Someone told me Art History courses required a lot of memorization and studying proved “a lot” to be more of an understatement. Ready to retire from the tedious amounts memorizing “The History of Photography,” I promised my friends I’d stop by The University of Michigan Museum of Art After Hours party. At the time, paying a visit to the UMMA seemed like the least likely place to find an art history escape. Falling deeper into a haze, I figured the promised cake would give me enough of a sugar rush to walk back to the comfort of my dorm and act as an appropriate substitute for the lack of caffeine on a blustery night.
To my surprise, the event was more of a soiree, mixing culture with the perfect amount of excitement. I was careful not to let myself be carried away with fun, but whatever ounce of focus I left the library with flew out the window. Guests were greeted to the beat of Michigan Electronic Dance Association (MEDMA) and welcomed with a free, student-designed tee. Luckily, I snagged one of the last shirts.
It was 8:57 PM. Technically, the party hadn’t begun, but looking around anyone would agree that The UMMA had taken on a new light, one full of vibrant energy. The main gallery transformed into a dance floor, fluorescent lights illuminating the white walls and priceless paintings. I marched to the sound of the synthesizer, over to the desserts table to divulge in some sweets. There was something to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth: chocolate, vanilla, and-
“Is that carrot cake?” a figure, hovering over the plates, asked.
“The UMMA is keeping it classy!” she added as she selected the perfect slice with her eyes. Chilled Granny Smith apples and baby bananas lined the black linen tables, perfect for a healthier late night snack.
Students were free to roam the galleries and to explore an unknown realm of treasures, both ancient and modern. I followed the sign that read “Photo-Booth,” where my friends and I uncovered an assortment of good-humored costumes. Guests had their pick of white and black suspenders, nerd glasses, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mask, and other unusual props to chose from. After striking a pose, my friends and I waited for our masterfully constructed snapshot to be project in the main gallery.
Afterwards, I moved to the luminary tables where guests selected one of three prompts to answer. “What illuminates you?” The white paper bag asked. I responded with “The flash of my camera” and drew a sketchy image of my Pentax.
“What color light would you like yours to be?” one of the student volunteers politely asked.
“Blue is nice!” I said.
Later, while walking the third floor of the museum, we stopped to see our lanterns being placed outside in an intricate pattern of multicolor design and light, a reoccurring theme throughout the celebration. The newfound energy and patrons breathed life into the museum, illuminating much of its forgotten corridors.
The evening was successful turn out, with students buzzing the museum. For freshman Katie Merenius, it was her first UMMA discovery.
“Believe it or not, but I have class here and I’ve never once walked the museum,” she said.
That was the hope of the UMMA Student Programming and Advisory Board (SPAB), the party planners behind the event. SPAB  is comprised of student board members, dedicated to supporting the UMMA and their mission of commitment to students and engagement with the arts.
It was close to ten o’clock, during my final jaunt around the artwork. Rapidly loosing track of time, I lost myself in the modern art gallery, where a peculiar work caught my eye. “Man Ray,” the plaque read. Man Ray is one of the modernist photographers covered on the exam, I thought excitedly. This instant of coincidence, pure cosmic occurrence, connected me to my studies in an unfamiliar way. Sadly after and hour free from work, it was time for me to say goodbye to the festivities and hit the books. I had a mountain of note cards waiting for me, but with a new source of inspiration and motivation, I walked spritely back to the dorms, changed into my new tee, and started to study.