ArtStreet installations evolve into terrifying reality

By: Missy Finnegan – Staff Writer

The pressures and fears in col­lege and in the real world con­stantly surround us.

The goal of the third ArtStreet White Box Gallery installation in a series of six, titled FEAR, is to engage with those fears in today’s political, social and personal cli­mate.

“It’s not all rainbows and uni­corns,” Adrienne Ausdenmoore, associate director of ArtStreet said. “Any college student or person in this world is facing increasing pressures due to con­stant stimulus.”

The interactive exhibit is meant to provoke thought and dialogue between participants.

According to Ausdenmoore, FEAR, as well as the other instal­lations at ArtStreet this year, “is meant as an opportunity to see, think and potentially have a dia­logue dealing with sight, sound, space and emotion.”

Building off THIRST, the exhibit prompts participants to question what will happen when something they have been thirst­ing for and then obtained is taken away or never actually gained.

There are two stations on op­posite sides of the exhibit that call participants to tangibly en­gage in finding their fears and what will end those fears through magazine clippings. With a wide range of responses visible in the basket on the table, it can be an intimate moment of conversation with yourself, as well as a collabo­rating discussion with others.

Creative Lead Krista Frank­lin utilized her literary and visu­al talents to evolve the previous exhibit, CONSUMPTION, into FEAR. There are still evidences of the initial exhibits, THIRST and CONSUMPTION—from the collapsed table and responses on the walls to the barrel in the center with shredded paper pour­ing out of it. Underneath the overflow of paper, there is fabric from CONSUMPTION and un­der the fabric, sand anchors the barrel from THIRST.

The masks laying on the table represent what individuals hide behind in their lives due to fear.

“Seemingly simple objects can have a lot of impact when they are in a certain space,” said Adri­enne Ausdenmoore, associate di­rector of ArtStreet. Simply look­ing at the small paper airplanes that hang daintily from the ceil­ing wouldn’t evoke the “fight or flight” response without the oth­er real, revealed fears filling the space.

Although all the installations are linked together, FEAR is an experience in itself and viewing of the previous exhibits is not vi­tal to the true experience.

FEAR will not begin to transi­tion into UPHEAVAL until early December in the White Box Gal­lery at ArtStreet.

FEAR can be viewed in the White Box Gallery between 8 a.m. and mid­night Monday-Friday, and from noon until midnight on Saturday and Sun­day. The White Box Gallery is closed during holiday breaks and interces­sions.

Photo of FEAR by Missy Finnegan.