Local artists, CU students, on display in Dennis Small Cultural Center
Desire is a concept most people encounter everyday, sexually, ambitiously or materially. However the word is abstract and open to a variety of interpretations, both positive and negative. This broad range of definition allowed artists at CU and the surrounding area to paint, photograph and construct works of art based on their own interpretations at the second annual Women’s Art Show sporting the theme “desire.”
The Hillel and the Dennis Small Cultural Center is sponsoring the exhibit, which is titled “The Desire Woman’s Art Show.”
The exhibit was open to women of all ages, however, because of space constraints, not all pieces submitted were accepted. The Women’s Art Show has a new theme each year. The curator of the show from last year came up with the theme “desire” but is studying abroad this year and was unable to coordinate the show.
“I know that there are so many different interpretations of what is desirable,” said Jen Berg, a freshman sociology major and the women’s program coordinator for Hillel.
Berg was responsible for choosing from the many submissions of artwork, which would then be displayed.
“It is interesting that some (of the pieces) are positive, some are negative and most are about desiring different things,” Berg said.
Hillel, a Jewish student organization on campus, was looking to sponsor more women’s programs and thought an art show would be a great way to do so.
“Our show is just a way of bringing people together, artists and the CU community,” Berg said. “It’s also a way of giving artists an outlet.”
The art show also had a cultural bases involved with it.
“A part of Jewish culture is embracing art,” said Adam Naftalin-Kelman, director of Hillel. “(The show) is not only about religion but it’s about embracing culture.”
Two CU students have work on display. Both are a series of photographs.
Lauren Ward, a senior fine arts and Spanish literature major, submitted a series of photos she entitled “Woman in Window.” The four black and white photographs, purposely shot out of focus, show a woman posing in front of a window.
“There are moments when you are in your room by yourself and no one else is around and no one else can touch you,” Ward said. “These are the moments when I think you feel desirable.”
Ward heard about the show from flyers in the art building and decided to submit her piece. This was the first time she submitted to an exhibit.
“(The show) is a good way for people to show work,” Ward said. “It brings people together to look at art and to look at fellow students’ work.”
Justina Thorsen, a senior studio arts and environmental biology major, submitted two photographs in a series that she titled “Flatter” and “Touch.” Thorsen had already had the photos as a part of a larger series she had been working on last semester and realized the two represented the theme of desire well.
“I think desire has a lot of different meanings,” Thorsen said. “Desire can be constructive or destructive.”
“Flatter” is a picture of a bouquet of flowers and “Touch” is a photo of two hands touching. The digital photos were toned sepia.
“‘Flatter'” is the beginning of a relationship,” Thorsen said. “A bouquet of flowers is a gesture. The next photo is the physical tangible aspect of people touching each other. You can touch people in a lot of different ways.”
Some other pieces of work on display include a cabinet of bead-encrusted forks, a canvas of different shades of red and a sculpture of stained glass.
The Desire Women’s Art Show will be on display through March 22.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Ashley Herzberger at Ashley.Herzberger@thecampuspress.com
