There is a lot happening at Cazenovia College’s Reisman Hall Art Gallery. Director Jen Pepper just wrapped up the last exhibition, “Dwell,” on Oct. 2, and is busy preparing the gallery for the next show, “HiFi D2.” The upcoming exhibition, which will feature an artist lecture and opening reception from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Oct. 6 will focus on design through a number of media.
“I think it is really important to bring on all sorts of different opportunities for looking at objects and ideas,” Pepper said. “This show will feature multi-dimensional works that utilize furniture, textiles, surface design, metals and industrial design. I don’t like to do shows that are strictly about one discipline; it’s more about the idea.”
HiFi D2 will feature the work of eight area artists, many of which have garnered national attention for their designs. Formerly trained woodworker Chris Clemans, owner of CabFab in Syracuse, will have his pieces exhibited next to jewelry designer and metalsmith Lori Hawke-Ramin, the Syracuse design-duo Carr+Lamb, three designers from ram industrial design incorporated and Sarah Saulson, one of Syracuse University’s acclaimed fiber artists. The exhibition will run until Oct. 31.
In addition to HiFi D2, Pepper is also excited for the recent arrival of New York City-based international artist, Alistair Noble, and the college’s second annual arts and crafts fair.
Noble is the latest artist to visit Cazenovia College with plans of transforming Reisman Hall’s Sculpture Court. Having begun work on Monday, the sculptor will employ the help of students and community members alike to create the site-specific piece “Mapping Arcadia: Cazenovia Lake and the Topography of Place,” over the course of ten days.
The arts and crafts fair, which is run in conjunction with the village’s holiday tree lighting ceremony, offers Cazenovia College students, faculty and staff the opportunity to sell their handmade wares. Last year’s inaugural event drew so many customers (and carolers) participants requested the gallery make it an annual event, and Pepper is delivering. This year’s sale will be held the evening of Dec. 2.
Pepper began her residency at Cazenovia College in 2003. Before she was asked to be the director in 2005, she taught numerous classes, including creative process in the visual arts, contemporary developments in the arts and drawing explorations, among others. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she attended academic institutions along the eastern seaboard and settled in NYC to work for art galleries before making her way upstate. She is now an associate professor in the division of art and design.
Boasting as many as 10 exhibitions a year, the Reisman Hall Art Gallery is a constantly evolving setting for artists from the college, village, state, nation and world to display their work. Following HiFi D2 the gallery will feature “Populating Places,” a group exhibition of photographic, video and other works, as well as the “First Year Seminar Exhibition,” a collection of various multi-media projects by members of the college’s freshman class.
Pepper admitted her mounting excitement for the upcoming exhibitions, happy to be able to display the imaginative works of both students and established professionals.
“This space is so accommodating, for all sorts of different situations. We’ve shown everything from video to sound pieces, to traditional photography and paintings,” Pepper said. “I don’t really see a difference between an artist and a designer, they’re all creative thinkers,”
Located at 6 Sullivan St. in Cazenovia, the gallery is open from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. Fridays, and from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sundays during the academic year.
Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext. 338 or [email protected].
