The Dean of the Arts & Sciences, Peter Hawkes, at East Stroudsburg University (where I teach) asked me to come up with a bunch of proposals to install artwork in the new Science & Technology Building on campus. I proposed about 15 different projects that mixed art and science. This Periodic Table of Elements was the top vote getter amongst the science departments — therefore we went ahead with it.

What you see in the pictures below is a collaboration between students in my Communication Graphics class from the Spring 2012 and Spring 2013 semesters. Each element is designed by a different student in response to the Letterform/Counterform project in which the letters that denote each element are rearranged, juxtaposed and/or cropped in an interesting and creative manner (I have included a link below the pictures of the actual project assignment sheet if you are interested). The resulting installation is what I consider to be an innovative rendition of the normal periodic table of elements that students and faculty know and love. Now they can test their knowledge of the table and, at the same time, stir some creative juices. My personal view is that the sciences can always benefit from a little creativity and, alternately, the arts can always benefit from a little more analytical thought.

There was short period where it seemed as if the Science Departments decided to rescind their offer of allowing us to install the artwork in their building, but thanks to the efforts of Dean Hawkes the installation went forward.

“The Annual Human Rights Art Exhibition serves as an educational event and addresses global and regional human rights concerns. The exhibit has been held at several locations including the University of Texas Pan American, Universidad de Monterrey, Mexico, Progreso Art Gallery, Mexico and the hosting college of South Texas College, McAllen, Texas.   The spring exhibition coincides with the Human Trafficking Conference also held at South Texas College. This important conference sponsored each year by the STC Women’s Studies Committee is an essential part of the exhibit‘s purpose and planning whereas both venues collaborate to bring awareness to human rights issues and encourage contemplation, refection and activism. Through the exhibit’s conceptually and aesthetically unique artwork we hope to connect with viewers on an emotional and personal level. Furthermore we hope to open both internal and external dialogues and confront the many horrors and injustices still found in our modern world as well as the unique problems found in our border region of the US and Mexico.”

Overpopulation 4   •   Graphite   •   31″ x 56″  •   2008

]]> http://www.davidmazure.com/2013/02/27/human-rights-exhibition/feed/ 0 http://www.davidmazure.com/2013/02/22/more-athica-press/ http://www.davidmazure.com/2013/02/22/more-athica-press/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:06:29 +0000 David http://www.davidmazure.com/?p=4284  

Another press link for AND I FEEL FINE at Athica:

http://www.flagpole.com/arts-culture/art-notes/2013/02/20/water-music-at-the-gmoa-and-and-i-feel-fine-at-athica

http://onlineathens.com/visual-art/2013-01-23/art-feeling-out-future

http://www.redandblack.com/variety/and-i-feel-fine-rebels-against-end-of-world/article_d7290f22-68d6-11e2-885e-0019bb30f31a.html

http://onlineathens.com/opinion/2013-01-16/midani-creating-art-optimistic-act

C’mon. How could I not apply for this show?

And. . . I got in. Defeated/Amputees (WAR) will be appearing at the Masur Museum of Art‘s 50th Annual Juried Competition in Monroe, LA — yup, that’s right, Louisiana — one more state to strike off my list in my quest to hit each and every state of our fabulous union.

(For images of the accepted work, please check out my last two posts as the work appears at ATHICA or click here.)

A few notes on the juror of the exhibition:
George T.M. Shackelford, Juror
Shackelford is the Senior Deputy Director of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. Most recently he co-curated the exhibition Degas and the Nude with Xavier Rey, Curator of Paintings at the Musée d’Orsay, while serving as Chair of Art of Europe at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Shackelford also curated the exhibitions Monet, Renoir, and the Impressionist Landscape (1999); Jean-François Millet (2001); and Delacroix to Munch: Nineteenth-Century Visions (2004), all held at the Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts (N/BMFA) in Nagoya, Japan. Among the exhibitions he has co-curated at the Boston MFA are Monet in the 20th Century (1998-99), Impressionist Still Life(2001–02) and Gauguin Tahiti (2003–04). In 2005, he was honored with the title Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the Republic of France.

Also, what I think is worthy to note of this exhibition is the curator’s choice to have a new prize category that promotes sustainable practices:

New Awards Category
Best Packed: This award will honor the artist who packs their art in the most professional manner. No packing peanuts, feedbags, loose papers as packing materials, no cigarette butts, etc. these types of things will disqualify you! Show your work and our staff the respect they deserve. This prize will be decided by the Masur Museum staff.

I would like to thank my wonderful assistants who participated in the performance by removing the tiles and handing them to members of the audience. Thanks to Kristin Karch, Jen Holt, and Hannah Fabian Bailey — you did a perfect job! I would also like to thank Agnetta Krechner for helping me paint the wall painting DEATH logo — your meticulousness was most appreciated. And last, but not least, I would like to thank all the people at ATHICA for their help and support, especially Hope Hilton, ATHICA’s Gallery Manager and Curator for this exhibition — thanks Hope!