MOORE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN’S SENIOR SHOW
Moore College of Art and Design, located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Museum District, held a two-hour exhibit of works produced by this year’s graduating senior class on Wednesday, April 24th. The event was attended by a large crowd of students, parents, and art enthusiasts. It featured artistic productions in a variety of disciplines, including graphic design, illustration, photography, and fine arts. Creating a viable platform for the senior class to showcase their wide range of talent, the event was marked by a celebration of the bright future in store for both the local art scene and the participating artists.
Among the many students standing by their finished pieces were Marie Scavetti and Robin Donnelly. Their collaboration on a work-in-progress aimed at sharpening personal awareness of the nature of relationships and domestic abuse took abstraction and formal execution to a new level. Dividing their space in half, Donnelly and Scavetti put forth an initially blank wall and some fabric covered by distinct traces of paint, and what looked like a litter of expression across their protruding and interactive canvass. Subtly grasping the transience of a given moment in thick and undulating strokes of black paint that disappeared into the whiteness of the background, the duo sharpened the experience of captivity and vulnerability by the addition of marks that heightened the reality of interpersonal contact. In a convincing display, Donnelly and Scavetti captured the feeling of helplessness that characterizes abusive relationships and provoked the too-often unconscious impulses of empathy and solidarity. In doing so, the introspective and socially aware pair called into question the obligation of the individual to their peers and community.
A short distance away, designer Anja Gudic dazzled her corner of the room with impressive adaptations of characters and scenes from classic spy films. Both witty and assertive, Gudic took some of the most iconic heroes and villains from movies like “The Bourne Identity” and “From Russia with Love,” and placed them in surrealistic and poly-chromatic surroundings. Using warm colors to convey the grit for which the films are known, Gudic moved through emotive progressions that contrasted the shiny metallic and monochromatic edges of her pieces. Adding hints of strong blacks and grays to the faces of many of the characters and the title fonts for each film, Gudic seized upon the surreal trappings and raw subject matter of these beloved bits of cinema.
In a similar vein but with a gentler approach, illustrator and print designer Shannon Dorsey showcased her hip interpretation of vinyl covers from some of the most well-known acts in the history of rock music. Dorsey proved herself equally unique and traditional with her neo-psychedelic interpretations of The Ramones’ self-titled album, Buddy Holly’s “The Chirping Crickets” and Jimi Hendrix’s classic debut, “Are You Experienced?” Capable of conveying her ingenuity in design, Dorsey plastered Holly’s recognizable face with a light tint of pink that was sharpened by green and yellow around the rock star’s eyes, as well as a baby-blue background. To intensify the piece, Dorsey drew purple-shaded glasses onto the clear plastic sleeve that holds the record’s jacket. This elegant touch gives the impression of the late rocker taking off his staple rectangular shades every time the listener removes the album from the sleeve for a spin. In another interactive touch of whimsy, Dorsey enabled the lime green and orange head of guitarist Jimi Hendrix to spin in place, while all four Ramones appeared to be melting off the cover.
Hugely successful in terms of attendance and diversity of media, Moore’s Senior Show supplied an organic forum where each student’s work could stand out without distraction. As the crowd filed out in good spirits, the artists appeared proud and satisfied. This way, the show served as a poignant sample of the depth of creative talent in the tri-state area.