What encouraged you or pushed you to have an exhibit at the Third Floor Gallery?
The Third Floor Gallery was accepting proposals just after many of us had formed the Sculpture Club, and our group of artists were working alongside each other that semester. It just seemed like the right moment to showcase our work together, so when the opportunity presented itself, we went for it.
What has this exhibit’s exposure done for you?
We got the chance to be recognized for our hard work and exciting ideas, so putting together a show was really rewarding. Not only that, but the exposure the exhibit gave us has shown us how much interest there is for sculpture, and that’s inspiring.
What is the theme of this gallery/ why was the name you chose decided on?
Metal, Paper, Scissors, Sculpt! was born from our goal to stay playful and enjoy the experience of collaborating. The pieces themselves don’t correlate to one another, rather, the collection as a whole represents our creative and inventive community.
How did you name your pieces (art, photos, sculptures, etc)?
Each artist has a different way of naming their artworks. Some of us named them based on what the works represented, while others chose and changed names as they were working on the piece. Many of the titles suggest a story behind the artwork, and other titles were distinct ways of describing a feeling.
How did you choose the order in which your work was displayed?
Because there were many different kinds of artwork, and the gallery space was so long, we decided to spread the work around the room based on things like size, color, and medium. Our goals included keeping pops of color throughout the room and balancing the height of pedestals with the width of artwork, as well as considering the ability of the viewer to move closer to and up to the pieces. Not only did we create dynamic pieces for exhibit, but we wanted the space to be engaging and unconventional too.
Which pieces are your favorite/ or what you're most proud of?
I’m proud of our use of alternative kinds of pedestals. We pivoted a lot on the day of installation, unable to leave until we felt like the space represented us as closely as possible. Whether we used metal scrap, stacked traditional pedestals, or accompanied the work with an environment of decay, all of these decisions happened spontaneously and are still the most impactful choices we felt that we made.
What materials did you use for your work (supplies, cameras, equipment, etc)?
Some of the artists used a variety of different materials including metal, plaster, wood, and found objects. Other artists focused on highlighting the qualities of a single material.
How long did this collection of work take to put together?
It took a few months for this collection to be put together. We knew which artists would be in this collection, but as we navigated the gallery space and made changes to the lineup, the collection evolved from beginning to end. Our main goal was to show the versatility of sculpture through this collection, so we chose many pieces based off of that. For that reason, many works were mixed media and had unique concepts.
What inspires you as an artist and how does it relate to this exhibit?
A lot of us grew up wanting to be an artist, though we all had different journeys of arriving here to do a show together. Taking classes in sculpture and getting experience in the workshops drove us to develop our own artistic practices, but being surrounded by other artists motivated us to exhibit our work as a group. As artists, we wanted the chance for our work to be recognized outside of the classroom, and to gain experience showing our work in a more professional setting. As peers, we were excited to show our art to our friends and supportive community. This exhibit was the perfect opportunity for us to do both, so we’re grateful and hope to create more shows like this in the future.
