Fall Salon 2014 Reception

This afternoon/evening was the official reception for the 2014 Faculty Exhibition (or Salon as they are calling it again).  The name may have confused some people, as I know at least one adjunct who didn't submit anything to it because she didn't realize from the subject heading in the e-mail that this was our latest faculty show.  Although all of the faculty shows have been held in this same gallery space, the number of artists has gone down.  Between full time and adjunct, I can think of at least six of us who were in the last one that aren't in this one.  The two alcove spaces were filled with works from a full timer who retired and passed away recently, and I'm assuming the plan was always to have some as a tribute, but I wonder if the large number of his paintings was just to fill the walls that otherwise would have been empty.

No problems driving north in afternoon, and I had time to stop at the secret cheese store on the way up to pick up a few bags of taralli (one my contribution to tonight's reception, since the college decided we weren't worthy of what they usually provide) and find close by parking in the faculty section.  Not a huge crowd in attendance.  The above photo is from tonight and shows the amount of visitors typically in the gallery at any moment in time, many fewer than the last show two years ago.  More were generally to be found in the hallway by the food table.  Most of the show's artists put in an appearance for at least part of the reception.  There were also a few students around, mostly people who were there for late afternoon or evening classes.  I saw several students who had taken my 2D, 3D, and Visual Thinking classes in recent years.  I even had one student who took a special trip to see it, one of my Belmar printmakers, who actually lives up in Essex County.  I'll bring my current fall class down on a week when it's convenient to the day's schedule.

Both of my pieces got a good response.  Whatever boardwalk you frequented in real life, the wheel game piece feels like one you played yourself.  And while the tattoo studio is not based on any actual place on any boardwalk that I ever saw, it does relate to the Floating World aspect of the series, and it was a hit with students who are fans of tattoos.

The fall 2014 Salon remains on display in the Howe Gallery in Vaughn-Eames Hall on the campus of Kean University through December 19, 2014.  Gallery is open daytimes during the week.  Admission is free, but parking is quite a challenge.