First Year MFA Show

I am going to confine my remarks to some problems I found in the manner in which the works were exhibited.

First, the hanging wall is a potentially helpful device but I don't think it was used to its best effect. While it doesn't block the view of the large-scale painting on the gallery's far wall when one is out in the hallway, it immediately blocks one's view as soon as one enters the door. Once inside the door, all one really sees are a few, very small painting sketches. This might be fine if it were a show devoted to such material but there was a lot of work that was more considered and developed in the show. For that reason, it seems a bit unfair to put small, sketchy work, so to speak, first. One possible solution might have to hang the hanging wall in a straight line (rather than a L-shape that blocks one's entrance), perpendicular to the door and several feet to the right of the door. Then the view of the large-scale paintings would not be blocked and the hanging sculptures on the far side of the hanging wall could be seen better and in relation to the large-scale paintings at the back wall. I think that could have been a really interesting juxtaposition. It would also give more viewing room for the other large-scale "night" paintings on the left wall, which they need. Lastly, the small painting sketches could be hung facing the other larger painting sketches on the right wall, with which they have a greater affinity.

The next really big problem is the room on the left. The large plastic-flower installation totally dominates the room and is unfair to the other work shown there. The fairly large predominantly white painting can barely be seen at all since there is no room to view it except to put your nose in it. The other three works fair somewhat better since they draw you in close, but the loud music of the installation interferes with experiencing their quietness and delicacy.

The hanging papier-mache paintings are also not displayed to best effect, in my opinion, because they have to negotiate too many doors etc. The next room, further back, is also problematic because the paintings -- by two different artists -- are too similar in scale and palette to be seen to best effect. The room just feels crowded. Lastly, the "Feel the Wall" pieces don't strike me as properly displayed either, although I may be misreading the artist's intentions here.

In sum, I would have liked to have seen the show hung differently. I can think of a number of possible changes besides the ones already mentioned but, then again, what's done is done.