By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
The Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn will reopen to the public on Aug. 11 with “Made in NY,” the center’s annual juried exhibition.
On display through Sept. 26, the exhibit will feature work by New York State artists, including Cazenovia resident Mary Beth Fiorentino and Cazenovia College Professor Jen Pepper, of Eaton.
“We are so excited that we were still able to have our annual ‘Made in NY’ exhibit,” said Schweinfurth Program Director Davana Robedee in a July 20 press release. “It’s a staff favorite every year because it showcases local talent and contemporary innovation in a variety of media.”
The exhibition is open to all media, including photography, sculpture, ceramics, painting, drawing, fiber, installation, and video.
This year, the jurors are Dewitt Godfrey, professor of art and art history at Colgate University, and Jaroslava Prihodova, director of the Dowd Gallery at SUNY Cortland. The jurors reviewed 330 works submitted by 174 artists and selected 79 pieces for the exhibit.
Fiorentino is a contemporary jeweler, designer and educator with a bachelor of fine art degree in graphic design from SUNY Fredonia and an master of fine arts in metal from SUNY New Paltz.
She teaches metalsmithing and design classes at both PrattMWP College of Art and Design and Cazenovia College. Her fall jewelry and metal class at Cazenovia College is open for community enrollment.
The artist also has her own studio practice. Some of her work is currently available for purchase at Cazenovia Jewelry.
“My interest lies in the adaptability and persistence of the living world, particularly in the face of manmade impositions — like a young fern that unfurls through a small crack in the sidewalk,” Fiorentino wrote in her artist’s statement. “Patiently, the forces of nature endure and divergent forms arise. When I translate these synchronous moments into jewelry, hybrid shapes emerge, protrude, and proliferate to mimic the vigor of nature . . .”
Fiorentino’s submission, “Clustered” (2018), is a necklace, which was hand fabricated from a sterling silver sheet that was cut, formed, riveted, and soldered together.
“It is articulated so it nicely drapes along the body,” Fiorentino said. “The form emerged from a loosely crafted paper model, which allowed me to preemptively solve any issues. Once fabrication started, the form grew in all directions until it felt finished . . . It is always an honor to be included in a juried exhibition, and I am most excited to see the work of fellow exhibitors.”
Pepper is a professor of studio art and design and the director of the Cazenovia College Art Gallery in Reisman Hall. She also teaches a number of art history courses.
She has degrees from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and the University of Connecticut at Storrs.
Pepper works in a number of mediums, including stone, fibers and sound, and her works often include text.
“My process always starts with ink drawing or collage I hull from a variety of pop culture magazines that kick start my creative process,” Pepper said. “Drawing and collage construction is immediate and a good exercise I try to adopt into my daily routine.”
“Made in NY” features two of Pepper’s most recent works: “Love Letters from Art History” and “Soft Stripe,” both from 2020.
“I always love being part of the [show],” Pepper said. “The exhibitions are always excellent gatherings of really diverse, good work. I am thrilled to have been selected by this year’s curators . . . [As] a previous juror myself, [I know] it’s an arduous task going through all the entries and selecting only the ‘cream.’ Often, the entries are upwards of 300 with only half of the works selected.”
“Love Letters from Art History” is a series of eight paintings that all include text.
“Each panel includes a short idea I have written, like ‘Fur-lined Teacup remains one of my favorites,’ referring to the surrealist work by Meret Oppenheim, or ‘Ronald Barthes’ Punctum,’ referring to the philosopher’s ideas of how a photograph moves us,” Pepper said.
According to Pepper, “Soft Stripe” was inspired by a collection of antique and unused fire hoses gifted to her by fellow artist and friend Dave Harper, who salvaged the materials from a New York City building in the late 1970s.
“I have perhaps 700 or 800 feet of the 50 year old stuff, each with beautiful brass fittings,” Pepper said. “How could I not use such a treasure trove? I gently laundered the linen hoses, cleaned up the brass and produced a new work because of it. ‘Soft Stripe’ is a three dimensional stripe drawn through space attached to a pair of wooden legs spread across the floor.”
Schweinfurth Executive Director Donna Lamb will announce the winners of prizes, including Best of Show, during a Zoom session for the artists on Aug. 7 at 4:30 p.m.
Due to COVID-19 crowd restrictions, the center will not hold an opening reception for the public. Instead, exhibiting artists are invited to make a reservation to view the show with their families and friends between 5 and 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, or between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8.
There is a limit of 20 people in the gallery at one time. No refreshments will be served.
The exhibit will be open to the public starting the following Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The center will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with the first hour set aside for members who make reservations in advance.
All visitors are required to wear masks, and hand-sanitizing stations will be available.
To make a reservation, call 315-255-1553.
For more information on the center’s hours and COVID- 19 restrictions, visit schweinfurthartcenter.org/forvisitors.cfm.
