Photo by: Kim Butler

As the semester winds down, New College’s soon-to-be grads engage in the traditional race to the finish line, working on essays and assignments long into the night and readying themselves for the next step. For eight young artists in the New College Art Department thesis program, this means the unveiling of a body of work each has spent the last year creating. Entitled “Octonocular,” the group exhibition gives each individual artist a chance to shine, while displaying the breadth of the program as well, with everything from graffiti-inspired painting by Jeanine Tatlock to abject sculptures and installations from Coral Chepren-Moore and monastic and religious scenes quilted by Jennifer Ng.

“It’s a body of work representative of them,” said Kim Anderson, associate professor of art at New College, who, along with assistant professor of sculpture Richard Herzog, spent the last year guiding the students through the thesis process. In addition to the work on display, students must also learn the art of installation and promotion - vital steps in the preparation of an exhibit. “All the components are a practical learning opportunity,” said Anderson.

“I really wanted to explore the root system of the plant, hidden underground,” said New College artist Paige Rawitz, standing next to one of her many sculptures that dot the inner landscape of Isermann Gallery, this one made of gel medium rods containing flashing LED icicle lights and clustered atop tendrils of molded plastic. Exploring the connections between the natural world, artificial materials and human activity, Rawitz utilizes a vast array of media in her sculpture, including plaster, silicone, wood, metal and plastic cutlery. Both playful and intricate, Rawitz’ creations demand a full walkaround to be appreciated, and leave the viewer intrigued, not revealing all at first blush. “It’s less about telling a viewer to think about something specifically,” said Rawitz, “but just to get them to think.”

Running through the Isermann corridor and into the studio space beyond, additional work from Rachel Zucker can be found. Beginning most often from original photographs, Zucker’s paintings - done largely in oil or acrylic, some with silver leaf on wood – contain an energy and eroticism hard to resist, complete with a healthy dash of the surreal. The paintings of Isabelle DuVall are similarly eye-grabbing, but for radically different reasons. Operating in the landscape tradition, the sun hangs heavy with luminous color in many, as the particulars of the scene give way to great almost-liquid swaths of psychedelic color.

There is one video presentation in the exhibit, this from Samantha Kreeger, who went to Ireland to investigate her heritage and collect stories from the people, before returning to make a hand-drawn animated video based on her experience. Stills from the film - individual ink and acrylic paintings – are on display, as well as an interactive mutoscope and zoetrope, which viewers can use to experience some of the history of animation. Last but not least, Wesley Thorp’s portraiture explores both traditional and modern methods, using an innovative combination of computer software and theoretical texts to create anomalies or “glitches” that lend an air of the techno-uncanny to the work.

“Octonocular” is on display at the New College Isermann Gallery behind the Mildred Sainer Pavilion and is open through May 18.

Photo by: Kim Butler