By Chinedum Emelumba—
The Greek Philosopher Aristotle once wrote “In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” It’s no wonder why so many artists are inspired by the structure of the world around them, often channeling the beauty of nature through art. The Visual Arts Gallery at New Jersey City University is known to feature some spectacular works of art from a vast number of talented contributors. This time, NJCU does it once again! On September 13, 2012, the gallery, which featured a group exhibition collectively titled “Arcadia Now: Contemporary Art in Country,” officially opened to visitors.
Initially, “Arcadia Now: Contemporary Art in Country” was only displayed at the Christine Price Gallery of Castleton State College. In due time, the exhibition had been featured all over galleries in different states. The essence of this exhibition is to render the beauty, simplicity, and serenity of nature through a contemporary eye. This idea is expressed through the depiction of common objects, places, and through the interconnection of mankind and nature. Upon entering the Visual Arts Gallery of NJCU, the tranquil atmosphere immediately embraces the soul. Various works hang from all four walls in a simple, yet embracive manner. It’s as if each piece tells a specific story with room for multiple interpretations.
Aaron Williams, a talented, native Rhode Island artist, contributed two pieces for this particular exhibition. Williams is no stranger to the world of art; he graduated with his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Maine College of Art. He later earned his Master’s degree from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, NJ.
Williams’ painting I Can See Through You (2009) depicts two blue-hued bodies, side by side, in what appears to be a wilderness. It invokes the idea of vulnerability that mankind has to nature, but at the same time we are connected, and survive off of each other.
When asked about the inspiration behind his work, Williams commented, “Inspiration mostly comes from the studio, i.e. previous work….This piece came partly from a narrative that had developed about a pair of teenagers that, after a vi olent act, found themselves in an alien world. They are the only inhabitants and have the power to do anything, like change the weather or move trees and rivers.” He added, “[It] was a depiction of them getting up in the morning and ‘working,’ changing the color of the sky, setting fires then putting them out, killing themselves and being reborn.”
Williams finds that his work reflects certain aspects of nature, and he is essentially interested in the functionality of his pieces. “I try to make objects that are compelling enough that a viewer will ask questions, furthering their understanding,” he said. “As I described, there was a narrative element at one point that borrowed from images of nature….but there’s a conceptual bent now. I’m more interested in what these images represent, how they operate,” he added.
Though the exhibition ends on October 12, the website lists various links to the artists’ personal websites. The site also includes further details about the group exhibition’s history and theme. If the visuals aren’t enough to satisfy your insatiable, artistic appetites, you may also want to watch some videos from the exhibition.
Other artists whose works can be seen at the gallery and online include Sally Apfelbaum, Justine Kurland, Scott Walden, James Welling, Tenesh Webber, Tim Daly, Alisa Dworsky, Bill Doherty, Mary McDonnell, Rebecca Purdum, Nathaniel Lieb, Kiki Smith, Ken Ikeda and Andrew Castrucci.
