The MFA Thesis Exhibition in the Tufts University Art Gallery is currently hosting the works of Daniel Phillips and Eugene Scott Finney, two graduate students pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts degree through a combined degree program with Tufts and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (SMFA).
Towing a fine line between pack rat and artist, Phillips' work is a massive undertaking in experimental art. The show itself consists of video pieces in one room and an interactive installation in the next.
The videos show images of Phillips and his cohorts deliberately filling a space with what appears to be simple found objects and everyday detritus. The viewer, confused at first, is drawn in and becomes fixated on this process of simply filling a space. The videos play on a loop, chronicling the process from start to finish and all over again.
In these compilations of hundreds of moving images, the only artwork of any permanence is the collection of objects slowly amassing in the frame. Human figures dart in and out of the images, occasionally remaining still, but never for more than a few seconds. These figures add and remove objects, creating an environment only to destroy it again. The overall images tell a story, one that asserts that art is about a process and not about a product. Here, this process becomes the object of focus.
The process comes under even more intense scrutiny in the next room, where an interactive installation is evolving. Here, Phillips has recreated a studio space, where visitors can step in and help with the creation process. Phillips has invited specific people, some artists and some who are not, to the space to leave their mark. These guests' artistic processes will be documented by a camera set on a timer to take constant aerial shots of the whole scene. The makeshift studio space is surrounded by scaffolding, which affords visitors a better view of the ongoing process below.
Phillips' work insists on the singular importance of the process of creation, and as an SMFA thesis, this technique is admirable. Art school encourages exploration of the creative process in all sorts of media, and the investigation of different styles. It's easy to go in with every intention of producing beautiful pieces in order to become a really great artist, but the nature of art school lies in the creative process. A thesis, which serves as the culmination of all this time spent in school, that is concerned wholly with process is indicative of a time well spent in school. Phillips' thesis could serve as a solid foundation on which to build a career as an artist.
Finney's work serves as an interesting contrast to that of Phillips. His two large sculptural pieces are as much about aesthetics as they are about function. Finney has crafted a fleet of ships and a fully inhabitable hovel out of antique building materials and discarded objects.
These two pieces impressively strike a balance between delicate craftsmanship and full-on utility. Finney considers the need for functionality in the solid construction, while at the same time focusing on nuanced detail, as each individual item seems to have been carefully selected. The house is filled with all sorts of used objects -- including old bullets in a dish, antique pulleys with a scale and an atlas -- that contribute to the character of the piece. Walking through the display is like checking in on someone's house while they're away on vacation.
But while the character of the house is tangible, it's also a little inconsistent. Some items imply a maritime connection, while others imply a military one. Each object could be from a distinct time period and place. Unless the owner is wildly eclectic, the items don't really all seem like things that one person would own. Nevertheless, they're all clearly selected with such care and attention for detail that the inconsistency doesn't present a problem.
Both artists present impressive and well thought out works, reflecting time well spent in school. Phillips' appreciation for the creative process and the inherent destruction involved in art making will serve him well in his future artistic endeavors. Finney's attention to minute details and strong craftsmanship makes his work appealing and will likely be a hallmark of his work in the future.
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At the Tufts University Art Gallery
Dec. 4 through Dec. 21
617-627-3518
