Arts - Buffalo State College

Arts
American Folk Music of the 1960s
Dan Darnley, MUS 440W: Ethnomusicology
Faculty Mentor: Professor Carolyn Guzski, Music
The focus of this presentation is the musical Folk Revival
that occurred during the 1960s in the United States. This
well-known artistic movement included renowned performers
Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez,
Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young, among others. The music was
historically influenced by the folk songs of Appalachia, brought
to prominence during the early 1900s. This presentation
will be based on secondary sources such as scholarly books
and journal articles. It will feature audio examples and
visual representations, as well as examples of the structure of
American folk music. Explained in a way that non-musicians
will be able to understand, the discussion will focus on both the
historical influences and ultimate significance of this music,
from both political and cultural standpoints.
Presentation Type and Session: Oral – Humanities III
Art and Healing: A Leap of Faith?
Susan Duval, Art History
Faculty Mentor: Professor Frances Gage, Fine Arts
How widely produced was art that addressed the fears and
hopes of those suffering from plague and epidemic disease
in Italy in the 15th-17th centuries? To what extent was art
believed to be a healing medium? And how efficacious did
beholders actually think it was? How was it believed to heal?
In my research I set out to investigate the extent to which art
was thought to have inherent healing properties. My first step
was to compile a database of relevant images from first-hand
observation in Italian churches and museums in Florence and
Rome. Relevant historical, religious and art historical studies
were examined to ascertain the social and religious beliefs held
by the population and the methods employed to survive during
periods of chronic epidemics such as the Black Plague. This
research resulted in the compilation of a manipulative database
of relevant art of the period and a research paper addressing
the concept that paintings of these two centuries brought
about healing in many different ways, and in particular,
through devotional practices and methods of observing and
appreciating paintings’ aesthetic qualities. I discovered that the
art produced in this period frequently addressed these ideas
and promised healing to viewers.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster I
Beyond the Link
Stephanie Kahn, Metals/Jewelry
Faculty Mentor: Professor Stephen Saracino, Design
Chain is often an overlooked element in a piece of jewelry
but in reality it is equally if not more important than the piece
hanging off of it. The types of chain explored are loop in loop
chains, chain mail techniques as well as wire weaving. Loop
in loop chains require the fusing of each individual link. This
is a process that requires fine silver for its ability to fuse easily.
Each process was explored with different wire gauges and
the steps were recorded. These techniques will help develop a
more cohesive language between the chain and the piece. As a
culmination of the process of exploring different chains, a piece
of jewelry will be designed and constructed to incorporate the
chain visually to the piece.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster I
Bronze and Aluminum Casting
Zachary Pritchard, FAR 343: Advanced Sculpture
Faculty Mentor: Professor Elena Lourenco, Fine Arts
With my research I explored foundry casting. I used
the funding from this grant to purchase various metals and
molding materials. My original intent was to focus on bronze
and aluminum casting solely, but I also explored casting in
iron. I produced all original designs for my pieces as well as
further explored my own conceptual development in relation
to the processes and materiality of metal casting. My finished
sculptures were rarely left as a singular bare metal form; I
found I liked to incorporate other materials, such as different
types of metal or wood, with my castings to create a context
for the forms appropriate to my own personal vision. I also
discovered that I like the inherent raw qualities of metals and
materials in general. There is an aesthetic that can only be
created by a material in its raw, unformed state, and I found
that I intuitively connect with that in my own sculptural work.
The end product of this research was the creation of a new
body of sculptural work, included in my portfolio, which has
been used in my application to numerous national graduate
programs for Sculpture.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster II
Channelling Space:
A Sculptural Installation
Rachel Wright, FAR 343: Advanced Sculpture
Faculty Mentor: Professor Elena Lourenco, Fine Arts
For a solo installation titled, “Channeling Space,” I
transformed the Margaret E. Bacon gallery in Upton Hall into
a dramatically different space that separated the interior from
the exterior. I wanted to challenge the habitual understanding
of this gallery and renegotiate possibilities of the space. From
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