CARISSA MARSH
A&E Editor
For 11 senior fine art majors, the end of the semester signals something even bigger than graduation: their artistic debuts.
Every spring, the Weisman Museum features the varied work of graduating art majors. This year’s show is titled “Polyfocal,” and will run April 12 through 28. The senior exhibition will showcase the work of Josh Andre, Jeannine Blankinship, John Caldwell, Katherine Carroll, Liz Chen, Joshua Dildine, Migi Kim, Lori Lambert, Dougie Mann, Kathy Millar and Mushambi Mutuma.
The name “Polyfocal” is fitting for the exhibition, as the show will include an array of media and viewpoints due to the distinct styles of each student artist. Here, five of the featured seniors discuss their work and plans for the future.
Jeannine Blankinship
Upon viewing Blankinship’s edgy art, it is hard to believe this senior is from a small town in Missouri, and that she cites abstract artist Rauschenberg and graffiti art as primary influences on her work.
“My style is sort of street art and messy,” she said. “I’m a very messy person, and I think that is reflected in what I do. It’s not precise.”
Blankinship said her “A Work in Progress” series is based on paintings she has done in the past, but that her style has just taken a new, three-dimensional form.
“I wanted to do an installation, something that is really big,” she said. “I chose to do boxes because it’s kind of like eight different paintings.”
While she has done most of the work, Blankinship has allowed others to contribute to her work.
“Even when the boxes go into the gallery they’re not finished because you can keep contributing to them throughout life,” she said. “So it’s kind of a representation of myself.”
Even the inside of her boxes are painted, as Blankinship explained that “the inside is equally if not more important than the outside.”
Because her series is a bit different than what she has done in the past, Blankinship is anxious about what the viewer reaction will be.
“I’m nervous because I think this piece can be a big flop,” she said. “You have to try new things.”
After graduation, Blankinship plans on going to Argentina and “floating around for a year or two” before applying to graduate school.
Katherine Carroll
Little wooden squares have consumed the life of Carroll over the past several months. This is because for her piece, “Reflections in the Light,” Carroll decided to create a large installation consisting of numerous hanging squares that, in essence, represent God.
“These little squares represent humanity or believers or yourself individually,” she said.
Carroll described her work as being “really complicated conceptually,” that can only be understood in-person.
Basically, the work will be in a corner, spanning five feet across. A large veil of unfinished wooden squares will hang from the ceiling in front of a tall white cross.
“This whole curtain represents how we are now, and the area behind is all white and represents heaven,” she said.
Also important to note are the mirrors on the wooden squares surrounding the cross. The mirrors are large or small depending on how close they are to the cross. Carroll said that this is because the closer we are to God the more clearly we can see ourselves.
Carroll drew much of her inspiration for the design from 1 Corinthians 13:9-12.
While this piece is different than what she has done in the past, it does fit in with her career goal of being a graphic designer, her love for two-dimensional art and most importantly, her faith.
“It reflects what we’ve done throughout our time here,” Carroll said of the show. “It’s supposed to just totally represent you as an artist.”
Liz Chen
Chen, who was born in China, connects art and culture in her pieces for “Polyfocal.” Chen will showcase six large oil paintings that all keep within a common theme.
“I’m focusing on design and color mostly,” she explained. “I’m trying to show this through patterns and the repetition of patterns.”
Chen also said her work features design elements reminiscent of those found on textiles.
“It looks very decorative and design-oriented,” she said.
But the main focus and inspiration for her work is most clearly China.
“It’s trying to reflect my culture a little bit. Most of the motifs in my work can be found in Chinese art,” Chen said, citing lotus flowers, bright reds, Chinese lettering and clouds. “There are lots of symbols related to my heritage.”
Chen said she is a little nervous about the show.
“But I’m really excited to have this opportunity to show everybody what I’ve been doing as an art major,” she said.
Chen said that she plans on finding a job in an arts-related field after college and might go to graduate school. As far as her Pepperdine experience goes, she said she feels her education has prepared her for life post-college.
“In terms of my art, it has definitely improved me in that area, but I feel very well-rounded in other areas too,” she said.
Joshua Dildine
Like Chen, Dildine draws on his upbringing as inspiration for his series of paintings, entitled “Horizon Series.”
“It’s a reflection off of my roots, from where I grew up in the Central Valley,” he explained. “It’s inspired by landscapes.”
Dildine described his work as being in the impressionist style, and he uses the relationship between the earth and the sky as the focal point for his pieces. He also said that his paintings, while not exactly landscapes, show how the two different planes interact with each other.
“The horizon is the divine point where our spirit picks up where our bodies leave off … it creates a feeling of infinity,” he said.
Dildine said he emphasizes the paint, texture and color in his works to enhance the works’ primary focus: the horizon.
For Dildine, the show is the capstone of his academic career at Pepperdine.
“I’m excited. This is something I’ve been waiting all four years to do,” he said. “It’s a good start for the beginning of my career to be showing my artwork.”
Dildine plans on taking a year off before applying to graduate school. During that time, he will continue painting in his own studio and working on building up his portfolio. He said he hopes to eventually teach as a professor while still being a practicing artist.
Dougie Mann
Mann, a San Diego native, is not afraid to show his sense of humor, which is illustrated in his series of oil paintings and a sculpture featuring overweight men.
While he says his work is meant to be humorous, there is a deeper meaning behind is brightly colored works. Mann said he relates the layering of the oil paint to the experiences of someone who has gone through rough times.
“They’re all in odd poses showing their discomfort,” Mann said of the figures in his works. “And they’re purely from my imagination. No models were used.
Mann said he is looking forward to hearing people’s reactions to his work.
“It will be fun to talk to them about it,” he said. “Initially, I think they will laugh, but I think if they look closer they will start to appreciate more meanings from it.”
After walking in April, Mann plans on continuing to paint.
“I’m not sure if I am going to make money off of it, but I’m going to do it all the time,” he said. “As long as I’m always progressing, that’s my goal in art.”
The Weisman Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. An opening reception will be held Thursday, April 12 from 6 to 8 p.m.
04-05-2007