When you walk through the glass doors of the Schmidt Center Gallery you might see full frames of nude people, scenes of the end of the world, and sexual encounters.
But, don’t be alarmed. It’s art.
On Nov. 29 of 2011, an exhibition called Figured Spaces opened, featuring pieces from a private collection owned by John Morrissey, a lawyer from West Palm Beach. All twelve of the artists are women –– and some attended universities like Yale and Columbia. Each piece of art tells a story by portraying the human figure in different ways. The artists used photography, painting or sketching to show their take on the psychology of humans and their role in the world.
And some are more explicit than others.
New York photographer, Katy Grannan, put out an ad in her local newspapers asking for volunteers to model nude, according to the exhibition’s pamphlet called Figured Spaces, provided by University Galleries and Department of Visual Arts and Art History.
The people who showed up ranged from complete strangers, to her own mother. While she worked with them, the subjects told Grannon their stories and created a connection that went beyond lady and lens.
If naked ladies aren’t all you want to see, don’t worry –– Figured Spaces has variety.
Contrasting Grannon’s shots are those of Loretta Lux, who presents another take on human nature in her collection, Hidden Rooms. These photos are of young children placed in classical historical settings and dressed up for the occasion, with stern expressions.
“I use youth as a metaphor for lost innocence,” Lux said on the wall next to her display.
Aside from showing the human body to tell their stories, artists also used space, both physically and metaphorically. According to the pamphlet, the background of the pictures played important roles in the pieces –– in some, the figure is small and the surrounding space takes up most of the picture. Also, the artists give their view on the human role, or “space,” in the world through their works.
Junior art history and photography major, Jeanie Giebel, who is working at the exhibit, explained that these pieces give viewers a chance to think about every day life in a different way.
“Representation of the figure in art helps us to better understand ourselves and others by opening opportunities for new thoughts on common perceptions,” she said. “We are very fortunate to have so many pieces employing the figure in various ways all in one place.”
In her essay, “The Exhibition,” assistant professor of art history Karen J. Leader, says the exhibit is meant to give these art works exposure and get people talking.
“This exhibition is not intended to celebrate the taste of the collector (although we do thank Mr. Morrissey),” Leader said, “or the individual talent of the artists (although we admit they are formidable), but to give the work some space, expose it to scrutiny, comparison, scholarly concerns, and, most important, dialogue.”
Check it out
The exhibition is set to run through Feb. 11, 2012. On Feb. 3, at 3:30pm, in PA 101, Schmidt Center gallery, a symposium will be held. Taking Space: Gender and the Figure in Contemporary Art will explore the role of women and the human form in art today. Information taken from Figured Spaces pamphlet.