It has always been a great pleasure to curate the faculty
exhibition. I have had the honor of doing so ever since my first
year as an adjunct at St. John's in 1981, and I consider this
exhibition as one of the most important shows that the university
gallery can host. My work and the work of my colleagues as artists
have provided us with the credentials to stand in the classrooms
and studios of St. John's and teach these wonderful students. The
show affords our students an opportunity to view, react and think
about the work of their professors. Students should not just
quietly look. It is a time to ask questions and discover. Now they
can stand before our creations and see what it is that we do as
artists. I hope they are motivated to bombard us with questions,
eager to learn about our work and processes as professional
artists. The faculty exhibition bridges a gap between the classroom
and our private studios. I remember when I was a student; my
strongest inspiration and encouragement came from viewing the work
of my professors in the annual faculty exhibition.
Although I am considered the curator of the Faculty Show, I view
myself more as a coordinator. Aside from the installation of the
actual pieces, there is no selective decision making on my part.
The show is thematically open, and participating faculty are free
to submit anything they wish, providing it fits within specified
space requirements. This year’s exhibition is wonderful in its
diversity of disciplines and approaches, and highlights the richly
dynamic artistic environment existing within the Department of Fine
Arts. It is an environment characterized by creative artists
working passionately within their individual directions.
The art in this show is powerfully evocative and offers a poetic
and visually compelling experience for viewers. It encompasses
approaches from traditional to digital, and often boundaries blur
and blend into new mixed media possibilities. I hope you
enjoy the show.
Ross Barbera
Curator