Marsha Gregory was my high school art teacher. Since I graduated I have learned that she has also taught as an adjunct in many of the local colleges, including St. Rose. Currently she is working as a full time teacher of advanced art, and is an artist. Although I was very close to her, I didn't see much of her work until I had completed high school. I found out recently that this was because her work is a little too 'racy' for high school standards.

On the home page of her website (marshagregory.com) you can see one of her most famous paintings. It is of her, holding hands with a man, both of them in their underwear. Also present is her dog.

The setting of the paintings is outside in a dark field. The mood is deep and dark and brooding, with one singular tree on the left side looking withered and dead. Both her and the man are undressed. The two characters conflict each other, and yet they are joined by their hands. She is more heavy-set, he is thin. She is white, he is black, and yet they are unified.

This brings up some social issues. I think it speaks in the contrast of the two models. It speaks of racial issues, issues with sexuality and gender and how we as a society perceives things. But, it also deals with humor. Both figures features are exhaggerated. The man is so tall and thin that he looks stretched, while she has made herself shorter and more vuluptuos. The end result is almost cartoonish. This takes those more serious issues that come to mind upon sight of the painting and makes them a little lighter. It's as if she saying 'ok, here are the problems, here are the issues, but let's just laugh about them."

You can see her full portfolio of work on her website (mentioned above). I suggest you check it out (it's super cool =]]]]).

Keith Carter, Poet of the Ordinary

Currently, in the Massry Center of St. Rose there is an exhibit up containing work by photographer, Keith Carter. On October 7th, there was an opening reception, after which Carter himself gave a lecture to the art students of St. Rose and anyone else who was interested. Keith Carter is an internationally known photographer and educator. He is inspired by many things, some of which he listed. These included things like stars, children and animals. Nearly every photograph framed in the Massry Gallery had at least one of these contained in them.

I found his Carter's work quite interesting. Every picture was in black and white, which was different. What I found most intriguing, though, was his process. At the sight of many pictures I found myself asking, "How did he get that?!" He used different photographic techniques like counterbalancing blur and sharpness to pull your eye to particular objects. There were images of birds taking off into flight, and children jumping, caught in mid air. Upon listening to his lecture I found out that he never used digital cameras. He used film, and a black room to achieve these images and that was it. What an eye to have. To see something occurring on the street and instantly recognize the opportunity, then snap the perfect shot and work with it in the black room until the product becomes your vision, what a process.

In his lecture, Carter told us that the Los Angelos Times proclaimed him "a poet of the ordinary". I think this is a perfectly fitting title for him. He takes pictures of average people, animals, and objects, and seems to glorify them ; give them depth and meaning. This definitely takes vision and talent. I would recommend seeing his work to anyone. It is currently hanging on the walls of the Massry center and will stay there until late January. I suggest you go.