'Still/Live' on Display in Eastern Art Gallery through February

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WILLIMANTIC, CT (02/06/2018) Ham slices on a kitchen counter. Plungers stuck to the wall. The flame of a candle that never truly extinguishes. These are just a few curiosities to be found in Eastern Connecticut State University's new art exhibit, "Still/Live," which is on display until Feb. 22. in the Art Gallery of the Fine Ars Instructional Center.

Created by Mauricio Alejo, Dave Greber, Cynthia Greig and Robin Mandel, the exhibit consists of a masterfully executed mess of colors, random objects and bizarre concepts to form one of the best displays Eastern has exhibited in years. On Jan. 25, the Art Gallery hosted an opening reception that included talks by two of the featured artists - Greber and Mandel.

They explained some of their biggest influences, such as renaissance still-life's and the junk lying around their garage, and went on to talk about what they hope the visitors take away from their curiously eccentric exhibit. "We try to take a moment that is typically very finite, and through this combining of object and video, stretch it out so you can occupy that moment," explained Greber.

One of the most interesting pieces, titled "Skyyys," perfectly exemplifies the collaboration of object and video. For the display, a video projector beams looped footage of a table covered in different colored cloths. Random items, such as empty bottles, spaghetti and a cat are then dropped onto the table abruptly, and then a new cloth is thrown over and the process repeats with new falling objects. The video is wildly vivid in color, and despite its chaotic nature, there is an odd serenity to the continuous cycle. The exhibit is truly indescribable; to fully understand what the artists have brought to the table (pun intended), one must stop by and experience it in person.

The Art Gallery is located in room 112 of the Fine Arts Instructional Center on the Eastern campus. Gallery hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 11 to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 1-7 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays from 2-5 p.m. Parking is available in the Cervantes parking garage and in the Student Center parking lot. For more information regarding this and other exhibitions at The Art Gallery, please call (860) 465-4659 or visit www.easternct.edu/artgallery.

Written by Casey Collins

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About Eastern Connecticut State University: Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving more than 5,300 students annually at its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. In addition to attracting students from 163 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 29 other states and 20 other countries. A residential campus offering 39 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in an array of applied learning opportunities. Ranked the 25th top public university in the North Region by U.S. News and World Report in its 2018 Best College ratings, Eastern has also been awarded "Green Campus" status by the U.S. Green Building Council seven years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.