Drawing IV students present works in Zavitz gallery
Vehicles of Drawing ran from March 7 to 12, 2016, with works drawn from the very talented pool of young artists in Studio Art’s Drawing IV class. Martin Pearce, a professor and established artist, guided the students in the creation of their work. The show was then curated by alumna Alexandra Hartstone. Hartstone chose works from Guelph art students Carole Allison, Sydney Bowers, Jennifer Chamberlain, Natalie Field, Tim Hoover, Kellan Jay, and Shannon McLean.
Hartstone commented on the show, saying, “There are a few totally different ideas happening in the space, and there are intriguing intersections between each other that question the architecture of drawing through the voices of seven unique artists.”
Hartstone curated the show beautifully, showcasing Drawing IV’s skill. Hartstone is an alumna from the University of Guelph who graduated in 2013. She is currently working at the McMichael Canadian Art collection in Kleinburg. She returned to Guelph to help curate Vehicles of Drawing at the request of Pearce. Students from the Drawing IV class displayed their works anonymously, and Hartstone chose the works she could visualize as creating something interesting. And this show was most definitely interesting. Viewing the show without an explanation or title, any passerby would not guess it was a drawing class’s work displayed in Zavitz, but that’s what makes this show so intriguing. Even with the variety of the show, the connection between the pieces was clear.
“Shannon’s pillowcases and Sydney’s faceless drawings […] offer a narrative reflective of each other. Jennifer, Tim, and Natalie’s work display the process of producing line and form while also sharing a sense of delicacy with Carole’s teacups. Kellan and Shannon’s work are both re-activated objects from the domestic sphere,” described Natalie Field when discussing the overarching theme of the show.
Studio Art students viewed the show all week and continuously discussed it saying that it changed the way they defined drawing. The variety within the space of Zavitz gallery was undeniable and that speaks to the creativity of the artists within the show. Drawing is not just pencil and paper for these students, but embroidery on pillow cases or even paper made to look like beautiful porcelain cups. There is even a piece featuring drawings on a door. After seeing the show, students from all different disciplines can say their definition of drawing has changed.