Postgraduate praise

While most recent college graduates are looking for work, either in graduate school or in their prospective job field, three graduates from the UB's class of 2009 have already found it.

Amanda Maciuba, Rob Rzeznik and Andrew Vaga are featured in the professional art exhibition, 'Noncommittal: A Prospective Glance II.'

The exhibition will run from Nov. 5 to Dec. 12 in the UB Art Gallery in the Center for the Arts on UB's North Campus.

The artists are all graduates of the Department of Visual Studies. Maciuba has a BFA in print media, Rzeznik earned a BFA in emerging practice and Vaga has a BFA in communication design.

According to Millie Chen, chair and associate professor of the Department of Visual Studies, these artists were selected at the end of the previous academic school year when the instructors of the Senior Thesis course for the year made a shortlist selection of students.

These students then received a studio visit from Sandra Firmin, curator of the University Art Gallery. As the curator, Firmin selected the three student artists for the fall exhibition.

Firmin has her own process in order to make sure that she selects the best pieces for the exhibition show. She selects the works based on professionalism, commitment and qualitative judgment. She also believes it is important to 'show how the pieces interact.'

The three artists use different types of materials and techniques to provide their commentaries on society.

Maciuba uses black and white prints, along with a sculptural element, to explore her hometown and its transformation from a rural area into a more suburban and busy town.

Both Rzeznik and Vaga portray media in their work, but their ideas are almost polar opposites. Rzeznik presents a video in which he comments on the violence and sensationalism of modern media. Vaga represents media in a more lighthearted and interactive way.

'The relationship between Amanda's rural community becoming suburban shows the lack of community, and Rob's piece speaks to it,' Firmin said. 'Amanda is more of the exterior, while Rob shows the interior – so absorbed that we're losing human contact and interpersonal relationships.'

Vaga's piece is a pseudo-wall of 20 computer screens, four rows of five. He created two animations that run simultaneously. In the center is a small webcam that responds to movement and causes changes in the animations, making them react. The exhibition also features a sound component that is interactive with the participants' movement.

'Andrew's piece is a viable alternative, and another way to use technology than just passively sitting in front of a television or computer screen,' Firmin said.

This is the second annual version of 'Noncommittal: A Prospective Glance.'

'The exhibit is for former students who are at a pivotal point, where they…pursue a career as an artist, or become a curator, or get their MFA or become a graphic designer,' Firmin said. 'This is a nudge of encouragement that being an artist is a viable road to take. The artists are so involved in their work, but they do not have much exposure to a professionally mounted show. This is an experience in showing professionally.'

The show is presented in collaboration with the Department of Visual Studies. The exhibit is on the second floor of the gallery and it is free and open to the public.

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