MetroSpective

Alumni Effects

Metro artists come together for a homecoming at the Center for Visual Art

By Heather Wahle
hwahle@mscd.edu

Metro Effect" highlights an impressive collection of art by 26 talented Metro graduates in a legendary exhibition.

For the first time in 15 years, the Center for Visual Art is hosting an alumni art show. Carlos Fresquez's "A fine time for Dine" is elaborate, to say the least. The collection of mixed media begins with two large canvases that frame the work. A large bright and playful heart painting contrasts with a frigid and stark skull to the left. A long yellow shelf filled with interesting items is placed just below the two canvases. Various toys and books clutter the shelf, including a used Mr. Potato Head toy sitting alongside a tattered copy of Karl Marx's "Concept of Man," a Virgin Mary dashboard decoration accompanying "Che Guevara Speaks," and a Peewee Herman bobble head collects dust next to Pablo Picasso's "Variations." The obscure nature of the Fresquez piece does not end at the shelf; it continues to an old tree stump with a shovel stuck in the center and bright paper cutout flags connecting it to canvas and shelf. However you feel about abstract art, this piece is one of the many at the Metro Effect art exhibit that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Phil Bender graduated in 1979. Selections from his 2003 works of "found objects" were combined for showing at the exhibition. The work contains 18 brooms, nine ladders, 12 shovels and 25 buckets from the individual works titled "Brooms," "Ladders," "Buckets," "Shovels I" and. The items are not typical of what one would find in an aisle at a hardware store. Each one of Bender's pieces has an appealing rustic quality that contains an interesting touch of history. The objects are arranged in an extremely organized manner. When observed, the art is transformed into an exaggerated simplicity that adds to the charm of the subject matter.

Bender finds his objects at thrift stores, antique stores, and estate sales. It took him two years to collect the brooms, ladders, shovels, and buckets for his piece. It is time-consuming work that is often inconsistent, but collecting these objects is a hobby to Bender. He claims to be a collector by nature and enjoys collecting objects that contain a sense of history.

After graduating from Metro, Bender opened up his own gallery, Pirate, to support artists who could not find a place to show their new work after they graduated.

Charlene Harlow is a 2003 graduate of Metro's art program. Three of her mixed media pieces, completed in 2005, were selected by the jury for Metro Effect. Harlow's pieces, "When the Sun Goes Down," "Just Before the Rain" and "When the Dust Settles" are all abstract works that rely on descriptive color.

Dave Seiler graduated from Metro in 1995 and showcases two pieces of his art courtesy of Studio Aiello. Seiler's interactive mixed media pieces have a vintage theme and could be mistaken for antiques. "Phrenitiscope Film #2 The Chase" is an elaborate contraption where the viewer can witness a slide show of old photographs. "Fortunetelller #1" is another one of Sieler's works that engages the spectator. Constructed in 2003, the piece consists of a box, which supports five piano keys that claim to predict your future.

Mark Friday brings another interesting interactive theme to the Metro Alumni exhibition. His three pieces, "Single Wheel Turn," "Three Wheel Turn" and "Corner Situations" were constructed in 2003. Friday's art consists of colorfully painted wooden boxes with metal sliding windows used to reveal other parts of the piece. Friday graduated in 1980.

Metro Effect is on display at the Center for Visual Art until Oct. 29. CVU's hours are Tuesday-Friday from 11am-6pm and Saturday from Noon-5pm. CVU is free to the public and located at 1734 Wazee St.