June 4–20, 2015
Opening: June 7, 6–8pm
Central Booking Art Space
21 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
Hours: Thursday–Sunday, 12pm-6pm
T +1 973 655 4074
MFA information session: June 14, 1pm, Central Booking
Entitled dirt-e, the exhibition is curated by by Ben Davis, the MFA program’s 2014–15 visiting critic, and features the following artists:
– Teresa Braun
– Daniel Morowitz
– Irena Pejovic
– Esmeralda Vazquez
– John Ryan
“Different as they are, the artists in this show come together to form a collective statement about the stakes of imagination today,” said Davis. “They go deep into their own minds to come out with something that will mess with yours. They’re myth makers, world builders, game players, and inventors of artistic obstacle courses and experiences more difficult to describe.
“Each of the [artists’] rooms here functions as an invitation to enter a new conversation about what it means to be making art now,” Davis added. “The stakes are both intimate and fantastical. They tackle drag and gender; the mythic and the profane; sickness and the monstrous; improvisation and order; and the procedures of painting.”
Finally, Davis added a note on the title.
“This show is called dirt-e, and it’s going to get dirty: spiritually dirty, artistically dirty, metaphorically dirty, and, at times, actually, literally dirty—all depending on where you are standing in it. It should be an exciting ride.”
“One of the core values of the MFA program is in building new futures,” added Program Director Prof. Andrew Atkinson. “The program encourages students to imagine widely and deeply, so as to create work that has deep ramifications. This gives the students and their work a strong trajectory that lasts well beyond the program itself. We’re all very proud of the students, their work and this thesis exhibition. ”
About the MFA in Studio Art program
The Montclair State University MFA in Studio Art is a rigorous two-year interdisciplinary program designed to offer artists a critical, conceptual and visual framework to experiment and develop their practice. Offering a wide array of comprehensive and individualized training in art theory, history, criticism and practice, the program provides students with vital skills to pursue their artistic vision and work across a diversity of mediums. Throughout the program, students are immersed in a dynamic environment of creative dialogue with leading faculty and one-on-one mentoring with visiting artists and critics.
About Montclair State University
Montclair State University is the New Jersey university that provides the ideal combination of a suburban campus environment with the advantages of New York City—giving talented and ambitious students unparalleled access to excellent academic programs. The MFA in Studio Art resides in the University’s College of the Arts which, in addition, includes more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs in art and design, communication and media, theatre and dance and music.
Applications
The MFA in Studio Art program is still accepting applications from interested students for the fall 2015–16 academic year. We are still offering Graduate Assistantship to exceptional candidates. For further information about the program or to ask a question, please complete the MFA in Studio Art information request, or attend our information session at the MFA thesis exhibition at Central Booking Gallery on June 14, at 1pm.
Andrew Atkinson, PhD
Director MFA Studio Art program
Montclair State University
Department of Art and Design
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
T +1 973 655 4074
