Fa l l 2 0 1 4 B Fa T h e s i s e x h i B i T i o nF l o r i d a i n T e r n a T i o n a l u n i v e r s i T y

MURMUR IN THE GLADE

AlumniAssociation

The art + art history department at Florida international university is pleased to present M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e , the Fall 2014 Bachelor of Fine arts Thesis exhibition. This exhibition is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and experimentation. it is representative of the level of ambition and the quality of work done within each discipline in the BFa program.

Many of the artists in this exhibition turn their gaze inward to explore themes of family, the self, or the very nature of perception, while others use their personal experiences as a lens through which to view broader sociopolitical concerns. each of these artists has developed a specific line of visual and conceptual inquiry over the course of their studies that will now serve as a springboard for the continued evolution of their creative practices.

Many thanks to Kelley antoniazzi-Taksier for generously donating her time and skills in the design of this catalogue.

d u s T i n l o n d o ninstructor, BFa Thesis iinovember 2014

M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 03

B e a i n T e r n a T i o n a l G a l l e rya T T h e Pa u l l . C e j a s s C h o o l o F a r C h i T e C T u r e

o n d i s P l ay

Wednesday, december 17th, 2014 through Friday, january 9th, 2015

o P e n i n G r e C e P T i o n

Wednesday, december 17th, 2014, 6 to 8 p.m.

MURMUR IN THE GLADE

Florida international university11200 sW 8th street, Miami, Fl 33199

apri l hart ley

juan Paez

nathal ie al fonso

ned Chandler

Chris t ian spencer

Grace Berler

Karen-janine Cohen

Karina rocco

linda hamil ton

lourdes roche

F e a T u r i n G W o r K B y

M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 05

a P r i l h a rT l e ya p r i l h a r t l e y. c o m

sewing is in my blood and it is part of my history.

it not only links me to the women in my family tree,

but it also connects me to people across cultures and

boundaries of time. as i stitch and pull and knot, i am

reminded that i am also stitching myself into a place

within an immeasurable history.

This project utilizes an intuitive process that indulges

my innate desire to turn inward and question everything.

i start with several layers of thick paper that i tear holes

from as if peeling back a shroud or digging into dense

earth. Then i satisfy the urge to mend these holes by

stitching tight concentric lines around and around their

perimeters. These stitches become steps in a journey, a

way for my mind to travel. The geometry and rhythm

of the patterns that underlie all layers provides comfort

in their predictability, like everything is in its place.

The works that develop are like little portals inviting

me to keep on wondering and questioning, seeking out

patterns and order within the uncertainty and mystery

that comes with just being alive.

April Hartley | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 07

08 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | April Hartley

UntitledPaper, cotton and metallic thread

10 x 10 inches2014

UntitledPaper, cotton and metallic thread

7 x 7 inches2014

April Hartley | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 11

12 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | April Hartley

Untitled Paper and cotton thread

10 x 10 inches2014

j u a n Pa e Zj u a n p a e z . c o m

My paintings give the impression of unremarkable

instances that are nonetheless relatable. like entries in

a diary, these portable pieces visually narrate moments

of contemplation which, at times, end as quickly as they

come. one piece might represent a cursory glance at

a stranger in a waiting room. another might be more

aptly described as a long absent stare through a window

or into the warped reflection in a door knob--the

moment after one comes to from a long stream of an

inward monologue, to focus on the glint of a metallic

surface. half-described forms conceal the subjects,

allowing the viewer to discern, for example, only the

suggestion of a face underneath an ocean of black. The

flow of the paint allows the objects to, at times, dissolve

amid the focus of the moment, as do our thoughts in

the machinery of routine. My paintings deal with gaps

in visual perception, as well as the epiphanic flashes that

grant us respite from daily normalcy.

Juan Paez | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 15

16 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Juan Paez

Waitingacrylic on paper8.3 x 5.9 inches

2014

Readingacrylic on paper8.3 x 5.9 inches

2014

Juan Paez | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 19

20 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Juan Paez

Reminder acrylic on paper8.3 x 5.9 inches

2014

n a T h a l i e a l F o n s o

My work investigates manual labor through an

integration of mark making and cleaning.

For three months, i drew a solid, thick black line

directly on a white wall with charcoal, using the muscle

memory of cleaning. This exhaustive process allowed

me to question the value of labor and evaluate my need

for order and meticulousness.

Scrubbing off the line confronted me not only

with accepting the nature of the materials and the

irremovable memory of them, but also with recognizing

the impossibility of returning to the original appearance

of the surface. The pattern of construction and

destruction has become a constant in my work, helping

me to embrace both approaches as the same process.

Nathalie Alfonso | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 23

24 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Nathalie Alfonso

Hidden Marks of Exhaustionvideo still, 00:08:56

run time 1:36:152014

Hidden Marks of Exhaustionvideo still, 01:25:20

run time 1:36:152014

Nathalie Alfonso | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 27

Hidden Marks of ExhaustionCharcoal on paper

48 x 36 inches2014

n e d C h a n d l e r

What would happen if we stop, and disregard the

reality we think we know? What would be left except

time itself ?

Within my photographs i manipulate beings, ridding

them of their personal characteristics, leaving only a

blackened form. The physical place is also stripped and

removed, creating vast and vacant spaces.

Ned Chandler | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 31

32 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Ned Chandler

Untitleddigital Print3 x 5 inches

2014

Untitled digital Print3 x 5 inches

2014

Ned Chandler | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 35

36 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Ned Chandler

Untitleddigital Print5 x 7 inches

2014

C h r i s T i a n s P e n C e rh t t p : / / m y w e b . f i u . e d u / c s p e n 0 1 6 /

As a man with Autism, I have difficulty communicating

and expressing myself to others. one of the few ways i

am able to fully express myself is through my drawings

and animations. My work provides a narrative of those

with misunderstood disabilities, especially those that fall

in the autistic spectrum.

There has been a rapid increase in people diagnosed

with Autism in recent years. It now affects two million

people in the u.s. alone. autism is a complicated

disorder that can be difficult to explain to others. Many

even stereotype autism as a form of mental retardation,

which is one of many misconceptions stemming from

popular culture. Through this work, i hope to show

the struggles of having a disability and how people with

Autism are able to “cope with their flaws.”

Christian Spencer | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 39

40 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Christian Spencer

Autism SpeaksGraphite on paper

17 x 75 inches2014

Special Snowflakes (detail)Graphite on paper

31.5 x 75 inches2014

Christian Spencer | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 43

44 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Christian Spencer

Get Well Soon Mrs. Rosensondigital animation still

2014

G r a C e B e r l e rg r a c e b e r l e r . c o m

My work comes from a nostalgia for right now. i use

photography as a way to remain present and continue

to question how i look at things. This work is an honest

and real reflection of this point in my life. It’s about

really feeling my feelings. It’s about nurturing curiosity.

It’s about being here, preserving this.

i like taking pictures of the people and places and

things that i love. Forming emotional attachments with

my pictures is what makes them good to me. i want

viewers to feel something, form their own attachments. i

also want to show off, because I’m a secret exhibitionist.

I don’t know where to draw the line between private and

public. all i know for sure is that i think vulnerability is

beautiful and interesting.

Grace Berler | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 47

48 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Grace Berler

Untitled (Peter) C-Print

10 x 8 inches2014

Untitled (Hole)C-Print

8 x 10 inches2014

Grace Berler | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 51

52 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Grace Berler

Untitled (The Sun) C-Print

8 by 10 inches2014

K a r e n - j a n i n e C o h e n

i document my interaction with animals to explore

how i create my own path through the physical world,

and forge trails through my emotional, spiritual and

dream worlds.

My recent drawings are inspired by the lives of

three black molly fish in their tank. I use my body to

understand their bodies. By literally moving with my

whole body through ink and water on a large piece of

paper i submerse myself in the act of drawing. in other

works i use graphite, charcoal, and various washes that

can be put down and erased, immersing myself in an

exploration of form and movement.

Karen-Janine Cohen | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 55

56 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Karen-Janine Cohen

Immersion 5 Charcoal and graphite on paper

59 1/2 x 59 1/2 inches2014

58 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Karen-Janine Cohen

Submersion 2ink on paper

59 1/2 x 108 inches2014

K a r i n a ro C C ok a r i n a r o c c o . c o m

My house always found itself at the center of the

attention and was chosen as the gathering venue for the

whole family and its many stories, dramas, and traditions.

however, we decided to leave the country. eventually, it

seemed like the only interaction resembling those lively

moments occurred exclusively within my immediate

family.

My parents’ house, however, remains the enclave of

family interaction and it becomes progressively a place

of nostalgia as we carry on with our separate lives.

independence has taken a toll in our family traditions.

yet, individuality can still be fostered within a family

core whose bonds remain strong despite the challenges

arising with time.

This body of work is a statement of love, appreciation,

and remembrances. it outlines an introspective journey

about how i perceive my family, and how i see myself

through them. It is within them where I find a sense of

place, a sense of self.

Karina Rocco | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 61

62 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Karina Rocco

Mom and Sisterarchival Pigment Print

16 x 24 inches2014

Pink Ring archival Pigment Print

12 x 12 inches2014

Karina Rocco | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 65

66 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Karina Rocco

Superman archival Pigment Print

12 x 12 inches2014

l i n d a h a M i l T o n

We have our unicorns and mine is the notion of a

post-racial world. We try to fast-forward to this fanciful

utopia, avoiding the prick that would awaken us to

the ugly underbelly of progress. i strive to document

the pressures that identifiers like race and gender have

created within America’s cultural portrait regarding

Black women. i turn the proverbial gun on myself and

my viewers to awaken us from our ignorance. My pieces

are cushions that allow my viewers a sense of comfort

or a moment of apprehension, jarring or soothing,

questioning our affiliation with the positive, negative,

and neutral spaces within this conversation.

Linda Hamilton | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 69

70 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Linda Hamilton

Is You Is Or Is You Ain’tembroidery on vinyl

6 x 6 inches2014

Flawlessarchival Pigment Print

19 x 13 inches2014

Linda Hamilton | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 73

l o u r d e s ro C h el o u r d e s r o c h e a r t . c o m

i simplify my environment into the experience of

pure color. By digitally abstracting and dissecting my

videos, I reveal the different pigments that make up

color. i create a dancing motion of colors and patterns

that appear and disappear through shades, tints, and

layers of seemingly transparent and opaque pixels.

Lourdes Roche | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 75

76 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Lourdes Roche

Fire and Lights digital video still

Courtesy of the artist2014

Lights 2 digital video still

Courtesy of the artist2014

Lourdes Roche | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | 79

80 | M u r M u r i n T h e G l a d e | Lourdes Roche

Lights in the Sky digital video still

Courtesy of the artist2014

P h o T o G r a P h y

Courtesy of the artists

C a Ta l o G d e s i G n

by Kelley Taksier