By: Victoria Kerins, Follow South Jersey Intern
GLASSBORO, N.J. – The Layers of Authenticity exhibition is currently on view at the Rowan University Art Gallery and Museum until December 20, according to the gallery’s website. It features the works of several artists from “Philadelphia and other regional locations that bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives.”
The current exhibition, encompassing the works of five artists; Maria Dumlao, Gabriel Martinez, Paul Anthony Smith, Eric Toscano, and Steven Earl Weber, alters imagery pulled from print, the internet, and their own photography by “using unique processes of production to provide authentic and insightful statements about our current political and social landscape and the ambiguousness and misconceptions of historical events, places, and people,” according to Rowan University Art Gallery and Museum.
Established in 2009, the Rowan University Art Gallery has hosted numerous permanent and rotating exhibitions, with the mission to make art accessible, allowing it to spark curiosity, passion, conversation, and contemplation amongst its visitors, whether they be artists, students, faculty, or the general public.
The Layers of Authenticity exhibition propels these goals into action.
With the works of multiple artists on display, Layers of Authenticity exhibits a range of talents, interests, and forms of expression.
“When working with one artist it usually represents a larger body of work by the artist that they may have been working on for a few years,” remarks Mary Salvante, the curator for the Rowan University Art Gallery. “A group show includes fewer selections from each artist to reflect the curatorial concept more directly. The emphasis is less on the artist’s full body of work and more focused on specific pieces that elevate the theme of the show overall.”
Of equal importance to the art, itself, that is on display, the physical space used to present the exhibition significantly influences the navigation and narration of each collection.
“Once artists are determined a layout is created based on the characteristics of the gallery,” continues Salvante. “Sometimes there is a natural narrative thread from one to the other but sometimes it’s not doable if there are restrictions with the space. Usually, it works out that a visitor can navigate through the exhibition and gain an understanding of that narrative but it’s not always necessary to view the work in the order it’s presented.”
Moreover, although the exhibition encompasses the work of five artists, it allows for an appreciation of each of the artists’ individual contributions, creating a unique arrangement in which their work can be considered both individually and collectively.
“Each artist is strong enough to be appreciated separately from the group but when viewed as a group the curatorial concept comes clearer into view,” explains Salvante.
With each artist hailing from different locations, they share perspectives informed by their varying backgrounds, individual experiences, and personal interests.
The Rowan University Art Gallery and Museum website provides comprehensive profiles of each artist, in addition to links to each of their personal websites.
In a brief introduction to the Layers of Authenticity, it provides an overview of the artists and their specific contributions to the exhibition.
“Maria Dumlao is a Filipino artist now based in Philadelphia,” reads the gallery website. “Her work reflects on the environmental and cultural impacts of colonialism in her home country and the multiple narratives that have thus been obscured and concealed. Gabriel Martinez is based in Philadelphia of Cuban descent. His work expresses feelings of displacement experienced with immigration and explores the complexities, incongruences, and significance of Cuba’s contemporary cultural, political and social climate. Paul Anthony Smith, who is Jamaican based in New York City, creates paintings and picotage on pigment prints that considers the artist’s autobiography, as well as issues of identity within the African diaspora. Eric Toscano is New Jersey based. Through handmade collages using vintage images his work evokes a nostalgic response to extreme environmental actions that allows the viewer to construct a narrative that considers the possibility that these may be actual historical events. Steven Earl Weber is based in Philadelphia and examines the invisibleness of the victims of drug addiction by using techniques to create reflections and shadows of photographic portraits of his subjects, ‘those that one routinely sees but tries not to notice.’”
The exhibition also contains interactive material, such as “History in RGB” by Maria Dumlao.
“History in RGB is an exploration of individual and collective history as viewed through multiple lenses,” explains the Gallery Guide. “Representing images of history, popular culture, mythic folklore, landscapes, and creatures, History in RGB proposes alternatives to the systemic representations ordered by colonial narratives.”
A stack of tinted color filters (red, green, and blue) akin to lighting gels are available, through which gallery visitors can view the surrounding prints,” continues the guide. “Each print is a juxtaposition of images that have been stripped of color, then re-assigned with the value of a specific color based on a “tropical” Pantone palette. The re-assignment of color is based on the value system set by red, green or blue. Viewing the print through one of the three filters, selected images become visible while simultaneously obscuring other elements. While the filters become tools for revelation and clarity for a monochromatic narrative, they also produce a mottled background by obfuscating the other narratives that exist on the same surface.”
A unique opportunity to gain some inside information about the exhibition, artists Eric Toscano and Steven Earl Weber did an interview for Rowan Radio on November 18 as a part of their “Community Affair” playlist. A link to the podcast can be found on the Gallery website
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Moreover, as with observing art in any form – for both returning visitors and newcomers – there are some important tips, such as coming with an open mind and willingness to consider new and different perspectives, that are essential to fully and effectively experiencing the exhibition.
“For any exhibition I encourage visitors to come with an open mind without any preconceived perspectives or biases and to let yourself explore the work so that you are free to come to your own conclusions about what the artist is hoping to convey,” recommends Salvante. “This way you will discover perhaps a new way or different way of thinking about the position the artist is sharing through the work. Ultimately as the viewer you finish the work by applying what you think the work means or what the work means to you. This I believe is how all art should be approached regardless of the artist or the type of work it is.”
“The Rowan University Art Gallery & Museum’s mission is to present diverse forms of contemporary art by professional artists with content that is thought provoking, relevant, and timely,” according to the Gallery website. “With our exhibitions, collections, and programming we seek to engender curiosity and a passion for contemporary art, enrich the quality of life for area residents, and serve as a vibrant cultural destination for South Jersey, the Rowan community, and surrounding region. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive, accessible, and just environment that encourages dialogue and collaboration between artists, students, faculty, and the general public through the presentation of interdisciplinary, contemporary art exhibitions, artist talks and other public programming.”
Layers of Authenticity, among many other permanent and rotating exhibitions, can be found at the Rowan University Art Gallery and Museum located at 301 West High Street, First Floor, Glassboro. See the gallery guide for in-depth information on each artist and exhibition. For more information, gallery hours, guides, and event schedules, visit the gallery website at https://sites.rowan.edu/artgallery/, or call (856) 256-4521.
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