The McIninch Art Gallery
Student Spotlight
The McIninch Art Gallery is proud to present "In Focus." Curated by our student staff, Rachel Willoughby, Psychology major, Senior at SNHU, Joyce Saghbini, Education Major, Junior at SNHU, Sara Severino, Graphic Design Major, Junior at SNHU, and Morgan Vespa, Communications Major, Junior at SNHU.

"In Focus" features photographs from the McIninch Art Gallery's permanent collection, selected by the student workers. In the 19th century, a new means of visual representation came into being. The invention of photography revolutionized the field of art. The earliest photographers spent decades experimenting with techniques and questioning the nature of this new medium. Photography is the method of capturing an image through the action of light or related radiation that is then printed on a light-sensitive material. Throughout the years, photography has made its impact as it has become more portable and accessible in the field of art. Once seen as a threat to the notion of 'real' art, photography is now a prominent medium of art.

With these selections, "In Focus" encourages the viewer to consider photography’s revolutionary standing as an artistic medium. This exhibit asks the observer to take a step back and reflect on life; from the smaller, finite details to the larger, meaningful moments, it is all worth remembering.
JESSE BURKE
Heart of Gold, 2014
archival pigment print
My name is Sara Severino. I am a junior year pursuing a BA in graphic design here at Southern New Hampshire University. My passion for art lead me to become a Gallery Assistant with the McIninch Art Gallery. I chose Jesse Burke as one of the featured artists for “In Focus.” Burke is a photographer and videographer, the majority of his work explores human's complicated relationship with nature. By doing this he promotes sustainable practices and preservation. This photograph is titled Heart of Gold and is from his Wild and Precious collection.
 
Wild and Precious documented five years’ worth of his eldest daughter in a series of multiple road trips. Burke traveled with his daughter to encourage a connection between his child and nature and give her an education that he considers essential. An intimate relationship was made between his child and nature through the ongoing adventures into the wild! This enlightened her into developing an appreciation, respect for conservation, and growing self-confidence.

Golden yellows and warm earthy greens glow in the forest background. Leaves on the trees shimmer from the welcome sunlight. Burke’s daughter throws on a yellow tee shirt and explores the wonders that hide in the woods. Her presence attracts a delicate friend, the moth sits comfortably on her hand long enough to show her father. Green and gold are my favorite colors. The color palette drew me to the photograph. I feel excited when looking at this photograph, as it reminds me of an exceptional time of year. The sun regains its strength and sends winter to pack its bags. Spring is here; stepping outside does not require any initial shock, and the fresh scent of soil is welcomed in every breath I take. 

Sara Severino,
Graphic Design Major
Junior at SNHU
TANYA MARCUSE
Fallen # 484, 2013
pigment print
Hi all! I am Rachel Willoughby, SNHU Psychology major and senior, currently on my fourth year of working as an assistant for the McIninch Art Gallery. With this week’s newsletter centering around our most recent exhibit, "In Focus", I have chosen to discuss the works of New-York based artist Tanya Marcuse. Her 15-year project Fruitless/Fallen/Woven explores themes of life and death in a metaphorical and aesthetically captivating way.

This particular piece, Fallen #484, is from Marcuse’s second series, Fallen, in which she used elements of natural decay to construct tableaus reminiscent of 17th century vanitas paintings. Derived from Latin noun for emptiness or worthlessness, works representing vanitas essentially explore the inevitability of death and futility of pleasure. These still lifes often included imagery such as skulls, rotten fruit, or symbols that suggest at the brevity of life, such as bubbles and hourglasses. By making use of dead insects, fruits and leaves, Marcuse has created an intricate composition that clearly reflects these themes. With its softened colors and macabre components, Fallen #484 is simultaneously morbid and inviting.

Having a personal preference for metaphorical works, I find myself drawn to Marcuse’s art for the way she explores these real, sometimes intense themes in an almost poetical and philosophical way. She takes a topic as large and controversial as death and narrows it down to a level which the observer can understand and reflect upon.

Rachel Willoughby
Psychology major
Senior at SNHU
DR. HAROLD E. EDGERTON
Bullet through Apple, 1964
Gelatin silver print
Hello, my name is Joyce Saghbini. I am currently a Junior at SNHU studying Early Childhood Education and am a gallery assistant at the McIninch Art Gallery. This piece named Bullet Through Apple by Dr. Harold Edgerton, is a part of many of his split-second photography pieces. This photo captures the exact moment that a bullet pierced an apple. Like this one, many of his images are made in a dark room while using multiple exposures per second. This created fine details of split-second motion to be visible for the first time.

Dr. Harold Edgerton is known as the pioneer in stroboscopic photography. This photography is the technique of capturing and depicting events of high kinetic energy in distinct steps. They represent a graceful and amusing intersection between art and science. Harold Edgerton was a scientist and teacher devoted to “helping others see what they needed to see.” His desire to study synchronous motors led him to combine his electrical engineering knowledge with this interest in photography. This was when he pioneered the stroboscopic and multi-flash methods of capturing images. His work was a great inspiration for the modern photographer.

Every time I would come across Harold Edgerton’s photography in the art gallery, I would always be amazed at that perfection in time. It is an art in itself that he could combine science into his photography to get that photo at the exact moment. He had to make sure he had the appropriate lighting and ensure that the images would come out clearly. The way that the photograph was captured so vividly was intriguing, as many would not capture or notice the exact details of that split-second moment. This type of photography allows viewers to pause in time and focus on the details in the picture. It also is an inspiration for photographers to know that they can still use photography in a way that pursues their own passions, as Harold Edgerton did.

Joyce Saghbini
Education Major
Junior at SNHU
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