Pepperdine’s Weisman Museum serves the Pepperdine and Malibu communities, inviting individuals to view past and present exhibits. On Sept. 9, the Weisman opened two new exhibits: Cameron Harvey’s “The Shape of Being” and several faculty artist contributors’ “Loop, Hum, Wave.” Both new exhibits offer unique perspectives on the human experience, nostalgia and the relationship to our surroundings.
Artists for “Loop, Hum, Wave” include Berfin Ataman, Gretchen Batcheller, Kathy Bates and Isabel Beavers, among others. These works depict the passage of time with bright and vibrant colors.
Junior Samantha Escamilla was in attendance for the exhibit’s opening and said she thoroughly enjoyed seeing the art.
“This is a chance to see the amazing work of the faculty and all the hard work they have been putting into the program,” Escamilla said.
Escamilla has gone to multiple exhibits and finds them to be an integral part of the community on campus.
“It’s another opportunity for people to have something to do, and helps us learn how we interpret art and how we view the world,” Escamilla said.
The large variety of pieces ranged from props and paintings to video screens paired with audio. They encompass large themes of understanding the flux of time.
The exhibit, “The Shape of Being,” focuses on Harvey’s walks through Santa Monica with the intent to capture the formal qualities of the human body. Her large canvases hang on the museum walls with lively colors and patterns.
Harvey further described the unique structure of her work.
“This idea of gravity and falling, the diversity within sameness,” Harvey said. “They all have the same structure but within are widely different.”
She further dove into detail about how her work can be used to represent femininity.
“I think of it as feminist work — not everything has to be square and right,” Harvey said. “I think of them as figures, how the body is not square, so they can make many more shapes when they are not in a rigid structure.”
Her work was acclaimed by multiple attendees who commented on her beautiful and unique patterns.
Art enthusiast Ken Friedman recently retired and said he now has time to experience various art shows. He explained what he liked about the exhibit, and spoke on the colors and strong textures.
“Once you go through an art museum, always do it and go back. You can miss so much your first time,” Friedman said.
Harvey’s work held a lot of significance for her appreciation of life and the colors in our world.
“For me, my own takeaway from making the work is about the balance between effort and surrender,” Harvey said.
Both exhibits gave audiences something to ponder as they made their way through interesting pieces with different creative structures and textures. The opening Sept. 7 served as a wonderful event that fostered another place of community as members came together to take in and interpret the art.
The exhibit had a strong opening turnout and both exhibits will be up until Dec. 8.
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Contact Jade Gonzalez via email: jade.gonzalez@pepperdine.edu
