Refractions Exhibition 2022
Refractions: A Collection of Contemporary Artists
This November, I had the opportunity to take part in a student-led exhibition with my fine arts class. From prep-work to show night, we collaborated to create a one-night exhibition show in the SCAD Studio space!
Before this fall, I never realized how much prep went into an art exhibition. As my fellow artists and I brought this exhibition to fruition within a few weeks, I cannot fathom what goes into an art exhibition like the art basal. Our journey went a bit like this:
The Curation Committee used a selection process, like juried exhibitions do, to find a theme for the show. Each artist choosing a few works to submit, and the committee voting on what works best for the collection of work. Then, they teamed up with the Exhibition Statement Committee to decide on a name for the exhibition: Refractions: A Collection of Contemporary Artists. This name tied together the variety of mediums and styles we, the artists, work in. The PR team put together a social media page to boost the artists, and designed flyers to disperse for the show. All the while, the Reception Committee selected an assortment of snacks and refreshments for the opening, making sure to be inclusive to all needs, allergies, etc. The day of, we labored to prep the exhibition space per the Curation Committee plan and set up the reception tables right before opening at 6pm. Finally, we braced ourselves for the night to come.
Talking with other artists and art enthusiasts at the show was one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve had as an artist. It was a step in the right direction of where I want to be as an artist. Taking notes from this exhibition, I know I need to focus on creating more art, and deepening my explorations of how the art came to be. When asked about an artwork, it can be easy to freeze up; not knowing your work can be your downfall when speaking to a potential collector. Whether the meaning simply is "art for art’s sake", or if it's a complex concept, you need to be able to articulate this to your audience during the show. As such, there will always be someone who wants the deepest explanation of an artwork, from how you created it to what it means to what you were doing when you came up with the concept. While I knew the intentions for Nurture vs. Nature, articulating it into words when asked outright proved harder than I thought. I had even planned out what to say beforehand, yet standing in front of the work, I changed the answer each time a person asked just slightly. Some thoughts I added, since I missed them first time asked, but truthfully, I kind of blacked out in awe that so many people found interest in the work. While my intention is to create conversation through my work, I think any artist can relate to imposter syndrome, feeling their work doesn't belong. This show gave me a hard punch to make me stop thinking that way all the time. Overall, I can’t wait to start working on my senior exhibition show in the spring but, now I know, it’s never to soon to start prepping a statement for a piece. So, that’s my goal before spring. I will deepen my exploration of my work before, during, and after to find its true meaning. Also, I will stop listening to the voice of imposter syndrome because while we might have the same goals as artists, we definitely all have unique paths to get there.
Stay tuned for more mess and beauty as I’ll be wrapping up 2022 with a final journal entry coming December 31st!
Tessa Jeanne
Check out my fellow Refractions exhibition artists:
Claire Tincher, Hannah Bang, Carla Youbi, Joe Charles, Aemyi, Jessica Bednarcik, Sydney Mangaroo, Rodrigo, Avery Scheidt, Joel Pasquarelli, Ashley Dunkin, Navika Gupta, Dasom Choi, Kaley Curry, and Professor Justin Archer
