Each semester the University Art Gallery hosts the Bachelor of Fine Arts(BFA) Exhibition to showcase and highlight the work of the university’s graduating seniors.  From now until May 20, work from Dawn Marie Brown, Sophia Larsen, Rachel Sculley, and Isiah Warren is on display at the University Art Gallery on the north end of campus.   

One of the talented artists who the STAR was able to catch up with was Isiah Warren. In his display, he showcased a gallery of photos that portray the culture of the rap music industry in a way that looked to show viewers a different side of rap from an artistic point of view.  Warren’s photos were especially notable because they come naturally and candidly.  His pictures are active documentation and he explained that “I use whatever is around me at the moment, rather than searching.”  In his artist statement, he explains that rap artists are everyday people who work tirelessly to make art that tells their stories and culture in an influential way.  Warren’s exhibit consisted of photographs of famous rappers and producers that he has grown close with.  He explained that they have brought him into their circle to document the world of rap from a closer perspective.  Warren enjoys being able to exhibit an inside look at the industry and said he loves being able to “show the humanity of these artists who are often seen as gangsters or thugs, but in reality, are hardworking artists.”  His project looks to break the barrier between the rap industry and the audience by showing off more artists who represent their upbringings and their environments through art.

Dawn Marie Brown, another artist, approaches her work in a slightly different way.  Her art revolves around creating and exploring the metaphysical internal space within herself.  Brown utilized cardboard in a few of her pieces which were particularly interesting.  She said she likes using cardboard because she believes the “material immediately imbues the pieces with metaphorical weight and meaning.”  Brown explained how cardboard has many properties in common with the human body such as being fragile, man-made, and compostable.  Brown also noted how it will eventually break down into its most basic elements and eventually return to nothingness.   Brown was thrilled to have the opportunity to display her work in the round for the viewer experience.  She specifically emphasized the ability of viewers to explore and digest the work while being engaged in all of the senses.  She also explained how that internal space takes form in both vaguely familiar residential spaces, as an artifact of my youth, as well as completely removed liminal unknowable non-space.  Brown elaborated on how she approaches the development of each piece and she said, “The fabricated world that she illustrates takes the viewer into her mind to illustrate deeply personal raw emotion as an internal response to the external world.”  Brown was very appreciative to see the fruits of her efforts and she felt it was a really nice way to end her career at SSU with her art displayed all in one place.

This art exhibition is open from 11 am until 4 pm on Tuesdays through Fridays as well as from 12 pm until 4 pm on weekends from April 27-May 20.  It will be closed on Mondays and holidays.