Lamont Exhibit: Possible Subject Positions
A rough, figurative sculpture made of plastic stands in the front of the room, while remodeled clothes hang on a rack towards the back. These are some of the pieces present at the Lamont Gallery’s latest exhibit, entitled “Possible Subject Positions.”
Open from Nov. 17 to Feb. 3, the “Possible Subject Positions” exhibition displays mediums such as video, sound, sculpture and clothing. It features work from a variety of modern artists– Maud Bryt ‘83, Merill Comeau, Masary Studios, Anna Schuleit Haber, Adriane Herman, Elena Kovylina, Tracie Morris and Alison Saar. Some themes of the show are identity, history and memory. A range of campus events featuring the artists of the exhibition are also scheduled throughout its exhibition period, with Adriane Herman participating in a lunchtime presentation on Feb. 1, and Merill Comeau hosting a workshop on Feb. 2. During Comeau’s workshop, participants will have the opportunity to create an altered item of clothing that relates to an aspect of themselves.
“I seek an abstract dynamic equilibrium of forms which embody a feeling of the human condition,” she said in her artist statement. “For me, every new sculpture is an attempt, an essay, at expressing the inexpressible.”
Senior and Gallery Proctor Ellie Locke said, “The show is supposed to be about different positions you can take in life, different stances you can have about things.” Kovylina used artistic expression and physical figures to represent different stances in an enticing video which displays people on differently levelled stools in Palace Square, Saint Petersburg. “That’s a commentary on the position you might take in life,” explained Locke. In another display, featured artist Maud Bryt aimed to show the difficulty in taking different perspectives. “I seek an abstract dynamic equilibrium of forms which embody a feeling of the human condition,” she said in her artist statement. “For me, every new sculpture is an attempt, an essay, at expressing the inexpressible.”
Merill Comeau’s work hangs on a clothing rack in the back right of the exhibit. She took her mother’s old clothes, deconstructed them, and then rebuilt them again. “She did not have a good relationship with her mother,” said Locke, who worked closely with the artist during the setup of the exhibition. By redesigning the clothing, Comeau shows her transition from childhood to womanhood and the different obstacles she encountered along the way. It is not only a visual exhibit; students can interact with the work. “She has these tiny gloves that you can put on to look through the different pieces,” said Locke.
Art Chair Tara Lewis commented on her experience at the exhibit, saying, “I think this exhibit not only celebrates cool artwork but also invites you to learn more about the artist who made it, their life and why they made it.” From her perspective as an art teacher, Lewis feels that the exhibit is especially important because it conveys meaning to the people who view it. She said, “I’m an artist and teach art to super talented and intellectually curious students. It [the exhibit] shows work that sends a message and invites the viewer to have a dialogue with it or relate somehow to the material and the process.”
For Lewis, one thing that stood out about this exhibition was the number of artists involved in the process. “I like the intersections presented in the exhibit and the connections between the artists included,” she explained. Lewis felt that connections between different pieces of art contributed to the overall value of the exhibition.
For lower Sarah Barrett, the artwork in the Lamont exhibit “all had deeper meanings that were clear and relatable. My favorites ones were the interactive ones, because they made you feel like you were also a part of the show instead of just a visitor.”
Though some students have visited the exhibit, Locke was disappointed that students seem to lack interest in the gallery. She said, “I hope people come and realize the depth of who they can be or all the different beings they can take on– that it’s okay and natural.” Locke isn’t the only one who thinks this exhibition is special. Fellow Gallery Proctor and lower Nicole Blanco agreed that “Possible Subject Positions” is unique and deserves more attention. “I feel like this exhibit is different from anything else we’ve done because our focus is on diverse definitions of feminists and what it looks like to different people,” she said.
The current Lamont Gallery exhibition offers more than just different pieces of artwork; it offers an impression of unity. Each piece of artwork in “Possible Subject Positions” aligns with overarching themes. Locke said, “It is sort of a bunch of different pieces that you might not expect to be together, but when they’re in the same space, they’re supposed to create a greater sense of togetherness.”