The new exhibit at the Hillel Project Gallery at the Glenn and Darcy Weiner Center opened to an excited throng of students last Thursday night.
The party to open the gallery's first exhibit of the year began with music from the fabulous DJs Josh Koplewicz '05 and Jon Miller '05. The opening was a smashing success, with a turnout larger than gallery leaders had expected. There was great ambiance, free wine and cheese, and something you don't see every day - RISD students break-dancing in the corridor near the bathroom.
Gallery leaders chose a circus-like theme to adorn the space, replete with tubs of popcorn and publicity posters designed to replicate vintage circus ads. The décor created quite an effect.
The party's energy was not only appropriate to celebrate the exhibit's opening but also the attainment of the committee's main goal - to unite the Brown and RISD communities artistically and socially. Gallery leader Laura Miller '05 described this as the show's most critical objective.
"We wanted to bring RISD and Brown students along with local community members into the gallery, to maximize the use of such a beautiful space on campus," she said.
Miller said she was "surprised and delighted" that the exhibit brought so many RISD and community members outside the University up the hill to the gallery.
Ilana Schachter '05, another gallery leader, said, "The gallery provides an outlet for art enthusiasm and appreciation. I was extremely satisfied with the turnout of this reception. Seeing how many Brown and RISD students attended this opening really makes me feel that this project has been extremely successful."
Seamus Burns, whose beautiful oil nude portrait appeared in the show, said, "Hillel's forum is a great means for Brown and RISD students to receive an otherwise unavailable level of publicity."
Of the show itself, the pieces were half from Brown students and half from RISD students. They covered a diverse range of mediums including oil, furniture, photography, jewelry, pencil and painting on silk. They also displayed a wide range of subjects.
There were many standouts in the exhibition. Guests at the reception responded especially favorably to Burns' large oil nude portrait, Jon Miller's suitcase installation and a set of oil paintings by Laini Nemett '06. Miller's installation featured a film noir-esque short with appropriated text imposed on the screen as dialogue. Nemett's small oil paintings - one a self-portrait and one an interior - were lovely and honest.
Gallery leaders said the event was a success and that they hope momentum from this show will carry over to the next two shows.
Art lovers can get all the culture they want at Hillel's gallery until Nov. 29.
