CUNY Queens College, MFA Exhibition 2013

CUNY Queens College, MFA Exhibition 2013

Opening reception: Saturday March 23, 6-9 PM
Opening reception: Saturday March 23, 6-9 PM

In urban design, the term “shared space” refers to an area where demarcating features such as traffic signs, road markings and curbs are removed in order to heighten the awareness of drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians of each other’s presence. By increasing the sense of uncertainty, those who enter a shared space tend to become more attentive to others. A shared space necessitates an ongoing negotiation.

The 2013 Queens College MFA exhibition takes its title from this idea that those who enter a shared space must acknowledge the presence of others with different practices, vehicles, speeds, and methods of working. This exhibition similarly recognizes and highlights the distinct bodies of work that each artist has developed over the course of their time at Queens College.

Working alongside one another, the artists have developed affinities and share mutual concerns. For instance, Sol Aramendi, Seth Aylmer, Barrie Cline, and Jose Serrano-McClain create a social space – a shared space of a different kind – through events, workshops, classes, and community outreach and organization.  Another group of artists, Chris Esposito, Kristie Hirten, Kara Szemelynec, and Asia Sztencel explore elements of their urban environment or man-made structures in juxtaposition with the natural environment. Pablo Alvarez, Henry Kielmanowicz, Thea Lanzisero, and Liz Pasqualo are interested in picking up the material detritus of their urban fabric in order to provide commentary on socio-economic conditions or on the ecology or to reflect on their individual connections to these materials. Yet another group of artists, A. Coffey, Christie Farriella, Marthe Keller, Lauren Nickou, and Amanda Shea explore a more intimate subjective relationship with the materials and the media in which they each work.

Within a shared space of interactions, there is always the risk of collision and rift. The exhibition acknowledges the limitations of shared spaces. The artists create work that may not sit comfortably beside one another. Nonetheless, they share a site of learning. In so doing, they must necessarily look around in order to navigate their way through many such shared spaces.

Special thanks to the office of the President of Queens College for their generous support.

Shared Spaces is curated by Liz Park, and here is how she describes our work:

“Sol Aramendi, Seth Aylmer, Barrie Cline, and Jose Serrano-McClain create social spaces through events, workshops, classes, and community outreach and organization. Chris Esposito, Kristie Hirten, Kara Szemelynec, and Asia Sztencel explore elements of their urban environ or man-made structures in juxtaposition with the natural environment. Pablo Alvarez, Henry Kielmanowicz, Thea Lanzisero, and Liz Pasqualo are interested in picking up the material detritus of their urban fabric in order to provide commentary on socioeconomic conditions or on the ecology, or to reflect on their individual connections to these materials. A. Coffey, Christie Farriella, Marthe Keller, Lauren Nickou, and Amanda Shea explore a more intimate subjective relationship with the materials and the media in which they each work.”

Shared Spaces
Opening Saturday, March 23, 6–9 pm
March 23–April 2, 2013
ONE ART SPACE, TRIBECA (map)
23 Warren Street, New York, NY 10007