Arts - Buffalo State College

Pillars of Salt: A Sculptural Exploration
of Religious Hypocrisy In a God-Fearing
Country
Brian Nacov, FAR 343: Advanced Sculpture
Faculty Mentor: Professor Elena Lourenco, Fine Arts
Recently in my sculptural work, I have been exploring the
concept of being an atheist in America, a predominately Christian
country. Some facets of faith can be beneficial, but the oppressive
nature of traditions firmly rooted in the past fills me with concern.
Through my sculptures, I have attempted to capture the essence
and emotion of those wronged by organized religion, particularly
Christianity, in order to create empathy toward these victims of
discrimination, hatred, and persecution. I have been experimenting
with salt as a primary material to communicate these ideas in
three-dimensional form. Salt itself is an abrasive, parching, harsh
substance. It also holds connotations to the biblical story of Sodom
and Gomorrah. Depending on different interpretations, the cities
were destroyed by God for either being too promiscuous, steeped
in homosexual activity, or for being inhospitable toward outsiders.
The punishment for turning to look at the ruin was transmutation
into salt. I feel that salt can be a strong communicator of the
consequences of not accepting the outsider, as well as a way to create
dialogue about the current state of LBGT rights in the world due to
religious bigotry. I plan to use techniques including applying salt to
a form through crystallization or adhesion, as well as casting it into
molds. My goal in this endeavor is to create several pieces based on
the aforementioned concept.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster VI
Rwanda: A Journey To My Roots
Tieisha Thomas, INE 390: Rwanda Theater Exchange
Faculty Mentor: Professor Drew Khan, Theater
During my two-week stay in Rwanda, Africa in January 2012 it
is hard to put into words what I went through. I had the amazing
opportunity to travel halfway across the world to country that many
might considered forgotten but is very much alive in my heart
more than ever. In my short stay in Rwanda I along with 6 other
students had the unique opportunity to visit genocide memorials,
orphanages, schools, refugee camps, villages, wildlife sanctuaries,
cultural organizations and on the way forge bonds of friendship
and love. My presentation will not only consist of the personal
trials and tribulations I went through but also what sprang forth
because of it. In our theater department we believe in theater for
social justice and change. While in Rwanda, we collaborated with a
professional theater company, Mashirika, comprised of professional
actors, singers and dancers. We worked together daily through
theater exercises and games. What started as a group of strangers
on January 4th and ended as a family on January 20th. During our
final days of the trip, we collaborated to develop a piece of theater
titled ‘When the Walls Come Down-TRUTH.’ The connection between
Mashirika and Buffalo State Theater will be one that lives on. It will
Arts
be one that everyone involved will carry around for the rest of our
lives.
Presentation Type and Session: Oral – Humanities II
Second Chance: The Application of
Recycled Material In Furniture Design
Kelly Caruso, Wood/Furniture
Faculty Mentors: Professor Jozef Bajus, Design and Professor
Sunhwa Kim, Design
Furniture is a part of our everyday lives. It is designed for
comfort and function, as well as decoration and aesthetic. By
taking an environmentally conscious direction in designing
and constructing furniture, I can recycle materials and prevent
unnecessary waste. In manipulating these materials to make
structurally sound furniture objects, I can give them a second life.
Through my research, I used found and donated materials, ranging
from cardboard to mixed paper egg cartons, to create several
different samples. I experimented with stitching, paper making
techniques, and weaving, as well as using basic woodworking
knowledge of structure and joinery. I also attempted to make my own
all-natural glues to use as an adhesive with the various materials.
The application of my research has resulted in the design and
creation of furniture pieces that are made entirely from materials
that have been recycled. Using recycled materials and implementing
other green strategies may take a little more time and effort, but the
rewards are measured in conservation of natural resources, limiting
the release of toxic substances into the environment, and allowing
reasonable space for new wastes in our municipal landfills.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster VII
Shadows Under the Bed
Mallory Scheller, FAR 343: Advanced Sculpture
Faculty Mentor: Professor Elena Lourenco, Fine Arts
I am interested in using my most surreal experiences from life
and my dream world to create a series of hand made sculptures
and storybooks. We wake up from the most intimate dreams to only
experience our harsh reality of life while there are other nights where
our nightmares have us begging to wake up. I am creating “Shadows
Under The Bed” to unveil all of the darkest fears, secrets, passions
and joys from the depths of my subconscious. I’ve been working
with a variety of delicate cloths to create sewn dolls as well as books
sewn from cloth. I’m in the process of including other methods
such as body casting as well as combining additional mixed media.
Somewhere between my subconscious and my bed, there is a story
waiting to be told and somewhere in reality, there is someone eager
to experience it.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster IV
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