I had the pleasure of attending the 2nd Advanced Graphic Design Exhibition at the University of Akron entitled, “Idiosyncrasy.” This semester-long course, taught by Markus Vogl, a second year professor at the Myers School of Art, has one goal: to brand, create and host a design exhibition at the end of the semester. Yesterday was the show’s opening reception. This course provides Graphic Design students the invaluable experience of creating an exhibition, which in my opinion, is all too often reserved for the Fine Arts.
Going back to my alma mater was a great experience for me. I was a part of Vogl’s first exhibition experiment, as a student in his class, and it was really awesome to see what the students came up with this year.
As part of the theme this year, the students explored the idea of obsession in a multitude of mediums that challenge the boundaries of what “Graphic Design” can be. Many of the students removed themselves from the two-dimensional plane of print and web design and found themselves in perhaps uncharted territory.
Jessica Peiri’s, “Poise,” was her tangible realization of the balance and responsibility she feels for her emotions and relationships with those closest to her. Pieri wrote on words and phrases on rice that represented people near and dear to her. She encapsulated these in colored glass, and hung them in perfect balance as apart of a larger metallic mobile.
Alex Zvada’s “Tempo,” was his expression of his obsession for music. He used a colorful display of lights that reacted to the tempo, tone and amplitude of the music that accompanied. As Zvada states “This artwork illustrates audibly, as well as visually, the moods and themes that are presented in my mind, throughout the day.”
I don’t want to give away the rest, because this exhibition truly deserves a visit. If you’d like to find out more information, follow this link. http://www.idiosyncrasy.co/
And if you do find yourself in the Akron area, stop over to Folk Hall for a peek at “Idiosyncrasy.” The show runs through November 23.