FARMINGTON, ME (March 31, 2023)—The University of Maine at Farmington Emery Community Arts Center proudly presents, “Primordial Soup,” the capstone exhibition of UMF’s Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts senior class.
Primordial Soup features the artwork of graduating seniors Elly Bernard from Jay, Jett Jordan from Stonington, Gavyn Moreshead from Dover Foxcroft, Ana Rogers from Farmington and Emma Wallace from Minot. This multi-media group show includes sculpture, painting, drawing, digital art and animation.
The exhibit will be on view in Emery’s Flex Space Gallery from April 6 – May 6, 2023. An opening celebration will take place on Thursday, April 6, from 4:30 – 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, April 19, at 2 p.m., participating art students will each give an artist talk that presents the ideas, research and processes that inspired their thesis work. The exhibition and all related events are free and open to the public.
Emma Wallace – “Sigh”
“These students have had a rich undergraduate experience at Farmington that has helped them to fulfill both their creative and career aspirations,” said Jesse Potts, associate professor of art and capstone advisor. “While majoring in Visual Arts, they have also had the opportunity to broaden their studies with other majors and minors, including Performing Arts, Music, New Media, Graphic Design, Film Studies and Creative Writing, to mention a few. They are well prepared to take the next steps in their future and we are looking forward to all they will accomplish.”
Ana Rogers – “Nervous system”
The show title harkens back to the complex environmental factors that came together to create life. With a playful nod, the collection of artworks in the exhibition explore the conditions necessary for critical thinking and creative action, and engage themes of entertainment, horror, physical labor and political agendas.
Gavyn Moreshead – “Alienation”
Elly Bernard focuses on human rights movements through found objects and paint. Jett Jordan utilizes traditional pencil drawing techniques to explore themes of horror. Gavyn Moreshead pulls concepts from pop culture and comic books to explore the feeling of alienation and overcoming it through these mediums. Ana Rogers looks at capitalism through the use of labor intensive techniques and medical imagery. Emma Wallace explores the questions and issues of everyday life through miniatures and animation.
These themes all share one commonality – to encourage the viewer to critically examine the world around them.
More on the UMF Emery Community Arts Center
The Emery Community Arts Center is an innovative, experimental venue for the arts in Western Maine. It features an exciting 2,500-square-foot, 109-seat multipurpose performance space with dynamic vertical foldaway doors that open onto an outdoor performance area and a 1,600-square-foot Flex-Space gallery for traditional exhibits, new media and performance art. A dramatic interior corridor offers additional exhibition space and connects the center with the UMF Alumni Theater.
The Emery Arts Center gallery is located on Academy St. (between Main St. and High St.) in downtown Farmington. The gallery is open Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm; Saturday, 12pm-6pm. Closed Sundays and holidays. Please check Emery’s website for updates at https://wpsites.maine.edu/emerycommunityartscenter/
For more information contact Ann Bartges, director of UMF Emery Community Arts Center at ann.bartges@maine.edu or 207-778-7461.
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Media contact: Jesse Potts, associate professor of art at jesse.potts@maine.edu
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2023/03/RP223-048A.jpg
Photo Credit: UMF Image
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2023/03/RP223-048B.jpg
Photo Caption: Emma Wallace – “Sigh”
Photo Credit: UMF Image
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2023/03/RP223-048C-scaled.jpg
Photo Caption: Ana Rogers – “Nervous system”
Photo Credit: UMF Image
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2023/03/RP223-048D.jpg
Photo Caption: Gavyn Moreshead – “Alienation”
Photo Credit: UMF Ima
