Quick and Dirty, a Review of Bergen
by Bess Bieluczyk
This evening, Wednesday, I attempted to see the two undergrad large format class shows. I say attempted because, though I am sure the work was good and what I glimpsed certainly looked promising, it was being taken down just minutes after I was first informed of the show. Such is the nature of shows at Bergen, quick and dirty. Though I like many things in life to be quick and dirty, I expect a little more from photo shows.
The problem lies with the set-up of the building itself. Bergen has many wonderful qualities such as fluorescent lighting and copious locker space but it is not ideal for exhibiting photographs. It is understandable that with an ever-growing program the first priority is providing students with enough digital and traditional lab space in which to experiment and produce work but what about, say, showing this work? Apparently this is not so important.
Bergen’s former gallery is now the first floor computer lab leaving the building and department with no space designated for exhibiting student work. I know of no easy solution for this dilemma. With demands already placed on SCAD owned galleries there is little hope that one of them would be turned over for purely photographic purposes. What would be helpful would be a quarterly scheduled, maybe even juried due to space restraints, exhibition similar to the painting department’s Open Studios. There, student work and work in progress is available for the public to view for a weekend. Wouldn’t it be nice if other people got to ride in our lovely glass elevator and see what we do?
This evening, Wednesday, I attempted to see the two undergrad large format class shows. I say attempted because, though I am sure the work was good and what I glimpsed certainly looked promising, it was being taken down just minutes after I was first informed of the show. Such is the nature of shows at Bergen, quick and dirty. Though I like many things in life to be quick and dirty, I expect a little more from photo shows.
The problem lies with the set-up of the building itself. Bergen has many wonderful qualities such as fluorescent lighting and copious locker space but it is not ideal for exhibiting photographs. It is understandable that with an ever-growing program the first priority is providing students with enough digital and traditional lab space in which to experiment and produce work but what about, say, showing this work? Apparently this is not so important.
Bergen’s former gallery is now the first floor computer lab leaving the building and department with no space designated for exhibiting student work. I know of no easy solution for this dilemma. With demands already placed on SCAD owned galleries there is little hope that one of them would be turned over for purely photographic purposes. What would be helpful would be a quarterly scheduled, maybe even juried due to space restraints, exhibition similar to the painting department’s Open Studios. There, student work and work in progress is available for the public to view for a weekend. Wouldn’t it be nice if other people got to ride in our lovely glass elevator and see what we do?
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1:24 AM
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