By Tim Bishop
The doors to the faculty art exhibition opened last Thursday in Maloney Hall. As these doors opened, so did the lives of the faculty members who submitted artwork.
Robert Diamond, who works at the gallery, said his favorite part about the gallery is that it is “a great way for people to come together and see the work their faculty does.”
Craig Frederick, art professor, is one of the many faculty members to submit his artwork to the gallery. The piece, entitled “War,” was made out of the same limestone that was shipped to the Pentagon after Sept. 11 to be made into a replica of the Twin Towers.
This piece, which took Frederick two years to make, represents the constant battle of all things of nature and universe, according to Frederick.
“This piece is about the balance of war and peace, and just the conflicts humans experience,” said Frederick.
Diamond, who said he is always impressed by the talent of the faculty, sees this gallery as a way for the students to get to know their professors better.
Michelle Dunham, junior, said she attended the gallery because she had some of the professors that were in the exhibition.
The exhibition, which will close on Oct. 14, features faculty speaking sessions at the gallery. The dates for these various faculty speakers are Sept. 13, 15, 20, 22, 23, 28 and Oct. 4 and 5.
Adam Nikcewicz, who will speak on Sept. 28, said his inspiration is very complex. One of the pieces Nikcewicz has featured in the gallery is a fork standing up with pasta floating horizontally attached to the fork.
“This piece popped into my head while I was in Venice at a pasta dinner,” Nikcewicz said. “It took me half a year to figure out the engineering on how to keep the pasta up.”
While Nikcewicz’s inspiration came from inside, Mike Alewitz was inspired to create his painting, The Midnight Robber, after a trip to Trinidad.
“I worked with the oil workers and got involved in the political life there,” Alewitz said. “I am very inspired by working people, war and social injustice.”
Rachel Siporin, who also submitted paintings, said the artwork is very strong and it makes her proud to be a part of the art department at CCSU.
“The artwork shows great technological and abstract accomplishments which made this a very strong show,” Siporin said.
Siporin, who has been on the faculty since 1984, submitted two paintings to the gallery.
Siporin said she collects photographs from newspapers and then paints from her subconscious.
“I try and find metaphors that go to a personal level and sometimes relate them to larger issues,” said Siporin.
According to Alewitz, the artwork is very essential to human activity.
“We all want to create,” Alewitz said. “Everyone has the ability to be an artist.”
Frederick agreed with this statement on wanting to create and said, “I have to create art like I have to breathe.”
Nikcewicz also agreed and said art is the outset to the creative process.
“Art helps me come to terms with myself and who I am,” said Nikcewicz.
The exhibition is not just liked by the faculty and the students. Cassandra Broadus-Garcia, faculty sponsor and gallery director, said she also liked the exhibition a lot.
“The faculty likes to exhibit the gallery of art for the community of Central so they can have a chance to see creative activity,” said Broadus-Garcia.
