Art Gallery is pleased to present “To Be Made Whole,” an exhibition featuring artists , , , , , and who each unravel and reassemble identity via a synthesis of representational imagery and tactile textiles. The exhibit opens with a free public reception on Friday, June 2, from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. and was co-curated by Prof. , the gallery director, and Francisco Maldonado ’23, who received a research assistantship from ’s .
The six artists in the exhibit fabricate fuller and more complex understandings of identity, culture, and history through their work. Maldonado notes, “In this show, we review art that combines representation and fabrication as a means to explore our collective identities and memory as well.” Their unique amalgamations are tangible forms of visual storytelling in which illustrative images are literally stitched or woven together to form complete narratives.
Jalandoni, for example, states that her paint and textile pieces “navigate the complexities and tangibility of being culturally Filipino American as a 2nd generation New Yorker,” reflecting that “the intricate process and performance of building a textile also has its references to journey-making and time-stamping.”
Similarly, Zexter elaborates that, “The thread acts as a connection between the person and myself or place that I have photographed. I always think of the photograph as something from the past and the thread as a reaction to the past and present.”
Additionally, inspired by her mother who immigrated to the US in 1950s and worked in the garment industry, Alba says, “Creating these works out of textiles pays tribute to the material creativity as an act of agency across diasporic communities.”
Meanwhile, Beach reimagines African-American quilts as shrouds. Haunted by the image of Michael Brown’s body lying uncared for in the street, he says, “My heart ached not only for the brutality that led to that moment but for the lack of tenderness in its aftermath…The quilt could serve as protection and allow him to maintain his dignity and respect as it blanketed him.”
By combining photo-related and fiber arts—both widely accessible quotidian processes that many viewers practice personally, the artists in “To Be Made Whole” simultaneously examine not how these materials function independently, but rather in conversation. At this generative intersection, they illuminate the ways identities are pieced together and demonstrate our collective capacity to be active participants in their creation.
This exhibit, which remains on view through Thursday, September 14, 2023, is made possible by the with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. All of the gallery’s exhibits and events are free and open to the public. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday—Saturday from 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. and by appointment.
Founded with the conviction that art is integral to society, the Art Gallery is a creative laboratory and exhibition space that supports innovation and exploration for both artists and viewers. Open to students, staff, and faculty from across the campuses and, equally, to the Lower Manhattan community and visitors from around the world, the Art Gallery encourages personal investigation and critical dialogue via thought-provoking contemporary art exhibits and public programming. Enhancing the Art Department's Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts programs, the Art Gallery offers students real-world opportunities to exhibit their own art and to work directly with professional artists to install and promote exhibitions. All exhibits and events are free and open to the public.
’s liberal arts college, Dyson College, offers more than 50 programs, spanning the arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and pre-professional programs (including pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, and pre-law), as well as many courses that fulfill core curriculum requirements. The College offers access to numerous opportunities for internships, cooperative education and other hands-on learning experiences that complement in-class learning in preparing graduates for career and graduate/professional education choices.
Since 1906, has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.
Art Gallery presents Critical Connections: Protest Photography Past + Present, in collaboration with — a movement designed to create Black and Asian solidarity through mutual education and celebration. The exhibition opens with a free public reception on Thursday, November 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
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