Spring Break
Fairbanks Gallery returning to scientific roots
Marilee Salvator's 'Circles' runs at Fairbanks Hall May 4-27
Anna Swain
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Diversions
It's very rare that I visit a gallery and have the thought, "Hey, I bet a biologist would love this!" That's never happened before, actually. But today, that exact thought went shooting through my head while looking at the work of Marilee Salvator in Fairbanks Gallery.
Her collection, entitled "Circles," is truly interdisciplinary in the best sense of the word. She explains her work, saying it "draws inspiration from repetitive-mark making, biological forms and plant life." The pieces focus on the structure of life at the cellular level and attempt to highlight the inherent beauty in the biological, microscopic world.
It is this focus that makes the art the kind that would appeal to the scientists among us. I have often heard my pre-med friends expounding on the wonder and beauty of the function and design of the cell, so it seems to me this artwork would be right up their alley.
Outside of this uncommon appeal, the art is also very beautiful. The pieces are quite abstract, with the shapes one moment appearing like eyes, then morphing into a tidal pool full of complex anemones, and then suddenly becoming groups of pressed dahlias. Salvator captures this shifting meaning in her art by saying, "In our world, things often appear one way, but on closer examination are completely different."
And her art does invite the viewer to put his or her nose right against the glass and examine each shape. Every circle is contains another circle, which in turn contains another. Some are constructed of remarkably complex webs of gold, which upon closer observation become even more detailed and interwoven.
Additionally, the color choices that Salvator has made are especially beautiful. The pieces are quite monochromatic, but in a very skilled, effective way. Themes change from piece to piece, giving variety, and colors used are saturated and complex with notes of gold and shimmer.
The gallery, too, has been arranged very carefully to invite the viewer in and to show the art in the best way possible. The collection at Fairbanks gallery is once again well worth going to see, even - or perhaps especially - for the microbiology major.
"Circles," by Marilee Salvator will be showing from May 4 to 27 in the main gallery in Fairbanks Hall.
Anna Swain
diversions@dailybarometer.com
Her collection, entitled "Circles," is truly interdisciplinary in the best sense of the word. She explains her work, saying it "draws inspiration from repetitive-mark making, biological forms and plant life." The pieces focus on the structure of life at the cellular level and attempt to highlight the inherent beauty in the biological, microscopic world.
It is this focus that makes the art the kind that would appeal to the scientists among us. I have often heard my pre-med friends expounding on the wonder and beauty of the function and design of the cell, so it seems to me this artwork would be right up their alley.
Outside of this uncommon appeal, the art is also very beautiful. The pieces are quite abstract, with the shapes one moment appearing like eyes, then morphing into a tidal pool full of complex anemones, and then suddenly becoming groups of pressed dahlias. Salvator captures this shifting meaning in her art by saying, "In our world, things often appear one way, but on closer examination are completely different."
And her art does invite the viewer to put his or her nose right against the glass and examine each shape. Every circle is contains another circle, which in turn contains another. Some are constructed of remarkably complex webs of gold, which upon closer observation become even more detailed and interwoven.
Additionally, the color choices that Salvator has made are especially beautiful. The pieces are quite monochromatic, but in a very skilled, effective way. Themes change from piece to piece, giving variety, and colors used are saturated and complex with notes of gold and shimmer.
The gallery, too, has been arranged very carefully to invite the viewer in and to show the art in the best way possible. The collection at Fairbanks gallery is once again well worth going to see, even - or perhaps especially - for the microbiology major.
"Circles," by Marilee Salvator will be showing from May 4 to 27 in the main gallery in Fairbanks Hall.
Anna Swain
diversions@dailybarometer.com
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.