Graduating seniors of UB's visual studies program were able to leave their mark on Buffalo's art scene this past weekend in the "4 cm Dilated: The Exit Show" exhibition. It ran from April 13 to 20, at the historic Central Terminal in Buffalo.
This featured culmination of work and planning, which makes up each student's senior thesis, is a two-semester-long project that each visual studies major is required to complete.
The requirement is based on more than just the artwork however, as the students were responsible for nearly every aspect of the exhibit, from public relations to installation.
Together, the students' stated mission was to creatively revitalize the Buffalo area. It made sense then to locate the project in the Central Terminal, a striking Buffalo landmark in the midst of restoration.
The 1920s art deco-style building, an important part of Buffalo's history, has seen a lot of neglect and abuse over the years.
Graduating seniors rented out the main lobby space. The dark, abandoned train station worked well against the collection of student pieces, creating an art space more interesting than most gallery locations.
The first thing viewers saw when entering the main area of the exhibit was a long wall built of shoe boxes. On the ground in front of the boxes was a large pile of shoes. Reminiscent of the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., the Terminal's rundown look once again contributed to the gallery's tone, which, in this case, was all too eerie.
This main area, located in the building's large foyer, held the bulk of the student work. There were many other smaller rooms in use, since students made the most of almost all available space.
A very striking and memorable piece in the exhibit was from students Douglas G. Brooks and Thomas S. Thompson, IV, entitled "Children of Liberty."
The piece made use of what was once the main ticket counter of the Terminal, inviting viewers to enter the exhibit. Inside, the walls were plastered with images of the forefathers of the USA, with blacked-out eyes and mouths and words of revolt scattered around.
It was a very effective piece when placed in the unsettling environment of the Central Terminal, giving an aesthetic feel reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange.
While the title of the exhibition refers to the beginnings of childbirth, the entire collaboration had no underlying aesthetic or conceptual thesis. Students were allowed to work in any medium and explore any theme they desired.
This open-ended assignment resulted in a collection of pieces alluding to US foreign policy, self-exploration and everything in between. Some of the pieces were drawn or painted, some were photographs, and still others were a combination of several mediums.
The variety and individuality of each artist was expressed in their pieces, while showcasing the overall talent offered by the departing artists, a combined effort that diversified this year's senior thesis show from past years.
The students achieved their mission of urban rejuvenation, at least for a week, drawing a rather sizable crowd of both students and art enthusiasts alike.
Although the art and visual studies programs aren't what UB is known most for, the "4 cm Dilated: The Exit Show" illustrated the presence of student art exhibits as important to the campus and Buffalo community as any biomedical research.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
