Just as each Tufts student has (hopefully) progressed over the course of their time here, so has the school and its campus. While an array of construction equipment has decorated the campus landscape this past semester, new and interesting art has adorned its art spaces.
Amy Schlegel, Director of the University's Galleries and Collections, has introduced a number of new attractions to the gallery since her arrival in January 2004. Schlegel focused on exhibiting new art, as opposed to the historical and multicultural focus that was previously taken.
For example, she introduced the New Media Wall in Aidekman, which screens artwork in video and film continuously throughout the day. The Wall played host this semester to the successful young artist Alex McQuilkin's video "Get Your Gun Up," which explores female aggression by referencing the traditionally masculine Spaghetti Western film. Currently on display is Joshua Mosley's work, "Commute," an animation which utilizes both stop-motion clay figures and charcoal drawings.
Other exhibits were equally modern, and in some cases complementary. Lauren Greenfield's "Girl Culture," on display in the Tisch Gallery, explored the modern female life through photographs and personal testimonies. Barbara Zucker's "Time Signatures," in the Koppelman Gallery and Remis Sculpture Court, examined the restrictions that older women may experience in society. Additionally, three of the four MFA thesis shows were on display in the Tisch Gallery this semester, each bringing a comprehensive collection of modern artist's work to the space.
Remis Sculpture Court hosted Karl Stirner's work, "Feeling Lucky," a body of work dealing with the loss of his wife to suicide shortly after his marriage. He explored both morbidity and sensuality in his iron sculptures, which have recently begun to incorporate other mediums, notably photography.
In addition to these exhibitions, the gallery hosted artist lectures on every other Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening. Lecturers included McQuilkin, Mosley, Greenfield, Zucker, and many of the MFA candidates, as well as visiting artists. Guest artist Abigail Child screened her video, "Cake and Steak," an examination of the American nuclear family. Over the summer, the "Annual Juried Summer Exhibition" will feature exhibits by artists who work in Medford or Somerville.
Currently on display at the Tufts University Art Gallery is the final of four MFA thesis exhibitions, which are shown each year at the gallery. Each artist is part of the joint graduate degree program of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Tufts University. In this exhibition, the work takes the form of installations, paintings, photographs and new and mixed media art.
