The University of North Georgia is hosting its second annual juried alum exhibition, inspired by the classic soap opera As the World Turns. This year’s exhibition was curated by Brittany Fanning, a 2014 UNG graduate. The exhibit explores melodrama, kitsch and theatricality. It reflects on the human condition during global chaos.
Fanning and Director of Art Galleries at UNG Victoria Cooke both grew up watching As the World Turns with their grandmothers. The two chose this theme to spark conversations about current life challenges. “It felt nostalgic and also a topic that could spark a conversation about our current lives,” Fanning said. “The last decade has been tumultuous and just plain stressful for so many reasons. It’s interesting to see how people are coping, finding optimism and looking at their futures.”
To select the featured artists and works, Fanning reviewed submissions without knowing the artists’ names. She aimed to choose pieces that resonated with contemporary art trends. “I’ve been absorbing the contemporary art world for the past few years,” she said. “I wanted to choose works that were in dialogue with what I’m seeing in galleries in major cities.”
“This particular piece is extremely intricate and well made. You can tell a lot of effort, thought and care was put into crafting it.” – Brett Brush, junior accounting major.
The work titled “Neighborhood” by Aidan Lyerly stood out for its bold style, reminiscent of Paul McCarthy’s work. “It seemed to me that he absorbed [McCarthy’s] drawing and painting skills but then developed his own style,” Fanning said. “It’s quite brave to do that so young.”
“I especially loved ‘Waiting’ by Lauren Clamp,” Fanning said. “There is so much going on in this scene she’s created. I would love to see her make more of these, perhaps on a larger scale and on canvas.”
The exhibition’s theme is about discovery rather than conveying a specific message. Fanning said, “I’m rarely ever trying to get a message across through art. If I have something to say, I’ll just say it. There was no message intended, more discovery if anything.”
Brush added that “The art shows the chaos of everyday life,” and with the warm and inviting feelings that he felt when walking into the exhibit, “…the artists incorporate familiar locations that make it feel more personal and emotional.”
Curating the exhibition from afar presented challenges. “I would have really loved to see the work in person when choosing,” she said. “Artists and studios are scattered, so thank God for the internet.” However, she enjoyed reading the submissions and understanding their connections to As the World Turns.
