Hera Gallery is proud to present / Moving on /// Moving Out //, an exhibition featuring the work of ten Senior Seminar students from the University of Rhode Island Department of Fine Art and Art History. With the challenge of packing up everything and transitioning into a temporary art building, URI's Senior Seminar course rose up to the challenge and came out with confidence and new found flexibility for their art making. Exhibiting artist and Hera Gallery Intern Elizabeth Witkun says “Even with our environment flipped upside down, we learned how important it is to be able to adapt and overcome. We found ourselves bonding together over both obstacles and successes. This show highlights the strengths of each artist and how in a world of consistent change we can count on our art to feel grounded.”Though the artists have explored individual concepts and materials through their studies at URI, a single thread ties each work together. / Moving on /// Moving Out //, showcases how the only constant is change; how every student is moving forward, and learning from the world around them.

Featured Artists: Rylie Bessette, Thomas Bowater, Aqua Butler, Cynder Carroll-Coates, Grace Horner, Michael Imbruglia, Olivia Lafazia. David Luong, Kayla Randolph, Elizabeth Witkun

Grace Horner

When I changed majors from Kinesiology to Fine Arts, I quickly realized many similarities between the two fields. My background in anatomy and physiology has been beneficial in my artwork that focuses heavily on portraits and studies of the human figure. My photo realistic work is created primarily with graphite or charcoal. I hope my work transcends realism and offers something to the viewer that a camera cannot.  After graduation, I plan to take a year to build and perfect my portfolio while working in the field and gaining experience both as an artist and as a person. At that point, I will consider returning to school for my master's and, hopefully, someday be able to teach art.

Artist Statement

Raised in a Christian home with a strong faith, religion has always been a large part of my life and the basis for my opinions and decisions. As a young girl, this offered peace. But my relationship with religion began to change as I matured. 

I want my work to shed light on the realities of maturing into womanhood in the context of my religion. My pieces touch on the guilt that young women often feel as they mature. The work conveys the struggles of staying in touch with your religion while transitioning into adulthood.

Aquaria Butler

My name is Aquaria Butler, and I am an artist from Providence, RI. I'm proud to be the first member of my family to graduate from high school and attend college. Throughout my teenage years, I noticed how in love I was with art because it helped me express myself and how I felt. Since attending the University of Rhode Island, I have experimented with various mediums like drawing, photography, and printmaking. When I graduate from college in the spring of 2023, my goal is for my work to relate to people and talk about societal problems that the world faces today. 

ARTIST STATEMENT 

I am proud to be the first member of my family to graduate from college. It has been a long and challenging journey. My work reflects my achievements during my four years at the University of Rhode Island (URI.) The linocut depicts me graduating with a cap, gown, and flowers, portraying this pride. The drawing of my family is in front of URI's Green Hall. Green Hall, the financial aid building, is significant to me because the people there have guided me in the right direction and were very helpful in getting me to where I am today. The last piece combines photos from my community, flowers, newspaper clippings, and my graduation photo from high school. All significant factors that have contributed to my graduating this Spring. I hope my work inspires other students from low-income and marginalized backgrounds to have the confidence to follow their dreams despite the obstacle course thrown our way.

David Luong

Hello there! My name is David Luong, and I am from Cranston, Rhode Island. Art has always been my passion, as it is a form of escapism and a way to actualize my wildest imagination. As a sculptor, I love to create mythical and fantastical monsters. Ever since I was a child, I have been captivated by the rich world of mythology and folklore surrounding monstrous creatures. The stories and legends surrounding these creatures fueled my imagination and inspired me to create my own interpretations.

ARTIST STATEMENT 

As dusk draws near and the blood moon rises, Japan grows dark and quiet. Sealing off their households with protective talismans, the villagers are wary of what is to come. Off in the distance, terrifying screams and cackling can be heard. A procession of supernatural creatures are marching towards the streets of Japan. The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is about to begin.

Drawing upon the Japanese folklore “Hyakki Yagyō” (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons), I have adapted the iconic Yokai into clay figures. The Yokai come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, ranging from the small possessed objects to the large hulking beasts. Each of which displays their playful personalities and unique characteristics. One of my priorities with this project has been to be as faithful to their source material as possible. That means making sure they are recognizable by their exaggerated forms, expressions, and poses. Having these unique details helps personalize and make sure they stand out from each other, while also giving the sense that they all belong together. 

In addition to the supernatural procession, the Komainu, lion dogs, have arrived to act as guardians of the Hera Gallery. Evildoers beware! Their protective aura helps ward off any evil spirits or ominous omens from the audience, the artists, and the artworks inhabiting the space.

Instagram: @david_luongo_art

Olivia LaFazia

Olivia LaFazia is an emerging Rhode Island artist known for her illustrations and drawings. At the age of 22, she has been honing her craft since childhood, with the unwavering support of her family. Currently pursuing a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of Rhode Island (URI), Olivia is expected to graduate in Spring 2023. Olivia's illustration and drawing, primarily using charcoal, are deeply rooted in the fantastical, dark, and mysterious. Her influences range from fantasy, horror, anime, and macabre to the renaissance.  In 2019, Olivia was honored with the prestigious RISD Annual Art Award from The Rhode Island School of Design. In the Spring of 2023, the Hera Gallery will display a selection of her work.

ARTIST STATEMENT 

Berserker Brides

The berserkers were a group of elite Viking warriors who fought in battles and upheld a reputation for being reckless and wild in combat without traditional armor. The berserkers went beyond the average Viking warrior who looked to the Norse god Odin to give them aggression and courage during battle. They went further by fully embracing their fury, taking on animalistic qualities and behaviors, and becoming battle-frenzied warriors. 

Since Viking stories focus primarily on male warriors, little is known about the role of women in berserker lore. The term “Berserker Brides” is mentioned in medieval texts, leading some historians to believe this could be the term for female berserkers, about whom little is known. In my work, I have combined what is known about Viking women with the legend of the berserkers, creating an interpretation of what an archetype berserker woman might have been like— fierce and ruthless female warriors.

ELIZABETH WITKUN

Elizabeth Witkun's love for photography started at a young age when she received a pink plastic 'Barbie' film camera as a gift. As she grew older, Elizabeth's passion for photography only increased. She decided to pursue her studies in Film Media and a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Rhode Island (URI), where she is currently an Undergrad. Growing up in a family that valued art, Elizabeth felt encouraged to pursue her dreams.

Elizabeth's work reflects her love for organic beauty, natural elements, and the emotional aspects of our world. She draws inspiration from film media, which is evident in the lighting and composition of her pieces. Elizabeth's ambition as an artist is to continue in an experimental direction, learn more about herself, and view the world from different perspectives. She strives to create work that sparks conversations and emotions, encouraging her viewers to see the world in a new light.

With many more experiences and achievements in her future, she is always searching for her next source of inspiration using her digital and film photography talents. 

ARTIST STATEMENT 

"All you touch, all you see, is all your life will ever be" -Pink Floyd "Breathe" 1973

"Essences of Life" is a series of works capturing how time, objects, and people, tell a story from an individual's perspective of the world. Displayed in a journal with its cover embellished like a door, imagery of personal and everyday objects is placed aside handwritten excerpts from the artist's psyche to create a harmonious connection between them and the artist's life.  

Black and white imagery, combined with the deliberate use of lighting, texture, and depth of field, enhances how the world around us is not confined to black and white but is composed of every shade in between. Something that may seem like an everyday object to one can be a memory, emotion, or symbol for another. The audience is invited to open the door and meddle with the artist's mind to expose the more intimate details of herself.

Instagram: @elizabeth.witkun

Kayla Randolph
My name is Kayla Randolph, and I am a ceramicist based in Rhode Island. My work revolves around crafting multi-functional stoneware pieces for your home that combine organic forms, textures, and natural colors to create unique, distinctive designs that deviate from mass-produced wares. In every set, each piece has its own individuality in terms of shape, texture, and color variations.

I've had the opportunity to showcase my work at local marketplaces. I'm proud to say that an article on my ceramics was featured in RI Monthly. As a senior at the University of Rhode Island, I'm utilizing my time to expand my work, including exploring new techniques and mediums. While I enjoy creating everyday objects like mugs, bowls, and vases, I'm excited to delve deeper into creating pieces representing and connecting with marginalized communities, reflecting my experiences as a Black woman.

ARTIST STATEMENT 

In 2020, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, nearly three times the rate for white women. These rates continue to climb as Black women are subjected to healthcare rooted in systemic racism. My work has incorporated earthenware to open the dialogue between the disparities in modern healthcare. While women, especially Black women, are told they have agency over their bodies, reliance depends on others.

This sculpture expands upon my work as a ceramic artist. Here inspiration from nature combines with my curiosity about the human body. The technique, texture, and use of color reflect the similarities. My work intends to advocate for those not favored in society and open up dialogue and communal concern.

Thomas Bowater

My name is Thomas Bowater, born and raised in little Rhode Island. I have always been fascinated with art's unique ability to convey the human experience, creating a silent conversation between the artist and the audience. I believe the visual realm has a unique way of communicating and sharing perspectives, with one image carrying the weight of a thousand words. That is the wonder of art, to shepherd an idea from the trappings of one's mind to anyone who wishes to seek it out. 

During the pandemic in 2020, I took the opportunity to reevaluate my future. I pursued my creative interests and switched from engineering to the arts, my true passion. No matter where this path takes me, I will live up to the dreams and sense of wonder I held all those years ago. I started my journey at the Community College of Rhode Island, earning an associate's degree in the arts, an Eagle Scout card, and subsidized loans. I continue my journey today at the University of Rhode Island, where I will graduate with a Bachelor in Fine Arts.

 ARTIST STATEMENT 

Fantasy mirrors reality, and imagination reshapes it. Whether that’s colors we could never naturally see, creatures beyond our world, or new settings, both grand and small, I believe this truth surrounds us, linking our vastly different experiences under shared emotions and ideas that can bring people together, no matter their background. Fantasy has a unique way of transporting the viewer to a reality very estranged from our own, yet grounded in a way that enhances both the realm of the known and theoretical, using the world of myth to understand our own.

Creating these far-out realities takes hours of drafts found in various sketches, notepads, and drafts typically scattered about. For this exhibition, I sought to reveal some of these behind-the-scenes elements that reflect the hours of passion and care that goes into creating these elements of fantasy, giving both the final result and the work that came before it a time to shine.

Rylie Bessette

My name is Rylie Bessette, and I grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island. I  will graduate from the University of Rhode Island in the spring of 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a focus in Photography and Graphic design. Growing up, I was encouraged to pursue my passion for art, and I took the leap of faith by switching my major from Education to Art. This decision has allowed me to thrive despite the challenges of the pandemic. 

I work for BLK MKT Studios in West Warwick, Rhode Island. My role involves specializing in marketing photography and videos. I help companies to enhance their brand image by designing logos, capturing special events and products through photography, and creating an effective branding effort on social media to increase their visibility.

ARTIST STATEMENT

"Abandoned Light: Exploring the Beauty of Neglect" explores the beauty found within broken spaces. The blend of natural beauty and man-made structures with compelling light leaves a lasting impression. The photographs invite the viewer to enter the peaceful and tranquil world, reflecting on what seems like a mundane and overlooked moment that can hold significance. These spaces brought me solace during the pandemic.