The Third Street Artist-In-Residence Program is a new program aiming to bring working artists/photographers into the Lafayette community.

Category: Events

Artist Talk- Isidro Blasco

I was first introduced to Isidro Blasco last week when he gave a talk to the sculpture and Photo II classes. Although he is a world-renowned artist, having showed in China, Australia, Madrid and New York City, he is still humble and personable. When asked if he considers himself a photographer, he replied, ” I just have a good camera, go and shoot and hope for the best.”

In his formal artist talk on November 15th in the Williams Art Center, he showed us some of his most famous work. His latest piece is an Architectural Installation of a deconstructed lane-way showing in Sydney, Australia. The installation is the same size as the buildings it surrounds and fits in quite perfectly with its environment. Although it is not a perfect reconstruction, in terms of the placement of the photographs, it is so beautifully crafted and executed that the imperfection ironically adds a realistic element.

We also had the honor of seeing his film entitled “Elusive Here” which is a dream dramatization that references his life and career. He describes the film as “a narrative of my transitional moments.” He uses his deconstructive method to provide the viewer with different perspectives of a single event or idea. I believe one of the most intriguing and interesting parts of the film is when he “sees” his ex girlfriends from Spain, in women he encounters in the MoMA in NYC.

The beauty lies with a disconnect of the woman from the place he has met her. So the viewer is hearing the narration of how these women relate to his past lovers, but the scene is a solo shot of this new woman standing in front of a white wall. As the narration continues, she stands in character, unaware of the story being told. Periodically an image appears on the white wall behind the woman that is parallel to the narration. Blasco’s use of deconstruction, tells his story in such a beautiful and memorable way.

Isidro Blasco is the true definition of a versatile artist. He has found his strength and applied it many art forms. From his sculptures, to his films, to his architectural installations, he seems to be an artist of no boundaries.

 

We are proud and honored to have Isidro Blasco as our Third Street Artist- in- Residence and excited to see what work he does here at Lafayette College.

Maria Martinez-Cañas

Cuban-born photographer Maria Martinez-Cañas will be visiting Lafayette College on October 16th and 17th in conjuncture with her show, “Maria Martinez-Cañas: Photographs” on display in the Williams Center Gallery from October 8- December 18.  The exhibition is part of Lehigh Valley Photography Month, November 2011.  More than 40 local galleries and art organizations will showcase a vibrant selection of contemporary and traditional photography throughout the Lehigh Valley.  While here, she will meet with various classes both in and outside of the Art Department.  She will also be offering a lecture open to the public.

Artist Talk: October 17, 2011, 4:10pm Williams 108

Examples of her work can be seen at:

http://www.mariamartinez-canas.com/MainFirstPage.html


Atul Bhalla

Our first visiting artist of the 2011-2012 school year will be renown Indian artist, Atul Bhalla.  He will be visiting Lafayette College on October 3rd- 5th.  His visit will coincide with an exhibition of his work at the Grossman Gallery entitled “Water Works”, on display through October 15th.  The exhibition includes a sculpture installation, photographs, video and watercolors.  During his visit, Bhalla will visit with classes from various departments including Art, Religious Studies and Environmental Studies, meet with advanced students and give an Artist Talk open to the public.

Artist Talk: October 5, 2011,  4:10pm Williams 108

Students Accepted for “InVision Juried College Photography Contest”

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Three Lafayette College photography students were invited to participate in Art Quest’s, “InVision Juried College Photography Competition.” The Show is part of the InVision Photo Festival taking place November 5-7 at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA. The show opening will take place at the Banana Factory’s Banko Gallery on November 5th at 6 P.M. The public show will be highlighting the work of a dynamic group of student photographers from around the country. Internationally known photographer, Larry Fink and Executive Director of Lehigh University Art Galleries, Ricardo Viera, judged the competition. The InVision Photo Festival is an annual festival focused exclusively on photography. The Festival will include workshops and lectures by world-renowned photographers. Larry Fink will be the InVision Artist In Residence and will be giving a presentation the night of the opening. In addition to the College Photography Exhibition there will also be a show called “InVision MUSE” highlighting emerging artists and the masters who inspired them as well as the “Photo Design Project Exhibit” focusing on how the art of photography is changing the lives of disadvantaged young adults.

The three talented Lafayette College students were selected to have their work exhibited are; Hannah S. Rhadigan (class of 2011), John Fedak (2013), and Benjamin Herchenroether (2012). These three students have taken multiple photography courses at Lafayette College taught by Ms. Greta Brubaker and Ms. Karina Skvirsky. Herchenroether’s photographs were taken at a “My Morning Jacket” concert at the end of August 2010. He appreciates music and photography and wanted to explore his interest by documenting one of his favorite bands. Herchenroether explains, “Finding good shots was challenging because I couldn’t really move around much, but I enjoyed getting to experiment a bit with different approaches. The lighting was great throughout the set, which gave me a lot of opportunities and ended up being a key part of the successful photos I took that night.” His photographs that are being shown were taken in a low-light setting, and show dynamic movement through the use of a slow shutter speed. He was thrilled to be announced as a winner in the InVision Festival. His colleague, Jack Fedak also has a passion for photography. He “…enjoys photography because it makes you think twice about what you are looking at.” Fedak’s photograph is a reflection of the sky in a whirlpool of water. “I was fascinated by it [the whirlpool] and had to take a bunch of pictures and flipped some off them upside-down and loved the effect that the sky was falling.” Fedak explains, “With my photography, I don’t really try to express myself, but prefer to show the moments around us that quickly flash by. We are constantly doing so many things, that it can be hard to slow down and live in the moment.” His classmate, senior, Hannah Rhadigan also abides by this motto. She has been studying photography since her freshman year and fell in love with the medium. Rhadigan’s black and white portraits were taken in Honduras in July 2010 while accompanying a Lafayette based economic project. She “set out to capture humanity behind economic empowerment.” She strove to show her subjects in their natural surroundings. She believes in capturing the essence of time, living in the moment and feeling the power of a second in time. She described her trip as “being able to see something without living there, and capturing the moment that says so much.”