WSU art students showing works at Front Street
Wright State Univer sityart student Eric Hamlin explains why he likes the sculpture medium. “Sculpture has a way of asserting its presence; instead of hanging on a wall, it exists in our space.”
Curious viewers can feel the presence of the sculpted works of three young men at the Dutoit Gallery: Hamlin, Nicholas Stalter and Jacob Tate.
“Their work ranges from perceptual installations and minimalist abstraction to portraits and figurative sculp- ture,” said Stefan Chinov, associate professor of the Department of Art and Art History at WSU.
Hamlin is presenting four installations in the show, one of which uses light as a visual interaction with its immediate environment.
“My work focuses on natural phenomena found in the everyday world, and re-contextualizes them for the art gallery. It allows us to dis- cover new and unforeseen aspects of something we may already have a lot of assump- tions about,” said Hamlin. “No matter the size, a sculp- ture cannot be viewed simply from one direction. Therefore to be fully absorbed, a spectator must fully engage with its three dimensions.”
Hamlin indica tedthatthe physical nature of sculpture makes it ideal to communicate the natural phenomena in his pieces.
“As an artist, I strive to be constantly aware of what’s happening in the moment, and respond accordingly to what’s happened in the next,” said Hamlin. (It’s) a slow and tedious process, but it can takeyoualotofpla ces.”
Hamlin’s work is also cur- rently presented at the DaytonVisualArtsCenterinThe Cline Show. As his art professor, Chinov had specific comments about his work.
“Eric’s work involves the use of ambient elements such as light, shadows, and projections to create eerie spatial installations.”
Stalter is showing figura- tive sculpture.
“I have been working on heads for the last couple of years that are made from observation. Materials are amassed and reduced with observation of the subject,” said Stalter. “Sculpture is direct. That is the quality that I find most attractive about it.”
After finishing his undergraduate degree this year, Stalter plans to complete his masters degree. Within 10 years he would like to be teaching at the college level. that as a departure point, combining different materials with a specific form or vice versa, continuing the search for an engaging interaction between the two.”
Chinov explains the young sculptor’s works further.
“Jacob shows a large floor installation of geometrical structures in wood a nd Plexiglas, as well as smaller objects in plaster, concrete, and rubber. His work evokes a visceral response to form and materiality as primary sculptural qualities.”
Tate is appreciative of he’s learned at WSU.
“I think the next 10 years “Nick’s work is predomwill be filled with many more inantly figurative in con- experiences like the ones I’ve crete and plaster, but it had at Wri ght State which also includes freestanding have allowed my artwork sculptures of found objects to develop in a positive way. in dynamic gestural compo- The opportunities afforded sitions,” said Chinov. me by the faculty and sur
Tate is presenting four rounding artistic community sculptures. have opened my eyes to the
“I usually attempt to invespotential avenues available tigate materials in tandem to an artist.” with simple geometric form,” said Tate. “If the form and material complement one another well enough, I’ll use Where: When: Hours: More Info: buting all