Looks Aren't Everything: Rutgers-Camden Symposium to Summon the Artist's Voice

CAMDEN – For aspiring artists, technique may seem paramount for a work to be successful. But what the artist has to say in that work, regardless of skill level, must be heard over the cacophony of voices from today’s prolific art world and the scores of established artists from throughout the millennia.

According to Rutgers–Camden painter Bruce Garrity, co-coordinator and curator of the two-day symposium “Seeing Voices: The Visual Voice,” you can be a skilled painter, but if your work doesn’t say something, it’s really not interesting. “Often the artist says something we already know, but in a fresh way or in a compelling voice,” he adds.

On Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10, a free, public symposium at Rutgers–Camden will ignite many voices in artists of all ages and experience levels with a lively dialogue about how to go about establishing one’s own authentic voice, as well as identifying it in existing works. An aspect of a process many artists don’t often have the opportunity to address with peers.

“It’s not like we’re going to leave this symposium with one answer. In fact, we hope participating artists and panelists leave with more to think about on a topic much of the world dismisses,” notes co-coordinator and curator Margery Amdur, a professor of art at Rutgers–Camden.

In addition to the symposium that will feature four panel discussions, two simultaneous exhibits at the Rutgers–Camden’s Stedman Gallery and the Hopkins House Gallery of Contemporary Art will showcase works from the 20 panelists through April 21.

At the Rutgers–Camden exhibit, a range of mediums from traditional oils and watercolors to unconventional polyurethane rubber and records showcase varying points of view and ways to communicate them. Patrons new to art will be forced to ponder how the works connect and what some are even saying. The fun, Garrity says is in learning the language of each piece, as well as the larger language of art.

“Picasso is famous for replying to those who claimed his art was Greek to them that Greek is a language you could actually learn,” notes Garrity.

This marks the second year that Rutgers–Camden has welcomed artists from across the nation for a two-day symposium and exhibition.

Exhibiting  artists in this year’s event include Maria Anasazi, Virginia Baich, Bob Bickey, Agnes Bolt, Ethan Breckenridge, Brent Crothers, Virginia Derryberry, Martha Gelarden, Aris Georgiades, N. Sean Glover, Lyn Godley, Robert Goodman, Jeanine Hill, Alex Kanevsky, Liz Laser, Adam Lazar, Jim Lee, Larry Litt, Catherine Martens-Betz, Elizabeth Mackie, Margaret McCann, Kirk McCarthy, Ayanah Moor, Francesca Pfister, Nina Sarnell, Bill Scott, Holly Smith, Kasper Sonne, Robert Straight, Jackie Tileston, Blaise Tobia, and Garth Weiser

Receptions for the exhibitions will follow the symposium beginning at 4:30 p.m. April 9 at the Stedman Gallery and on April 10 at the Hopkins House Gallery of Contemporary Art.

For the symposium’s full schedule, visit http://arts.camden.lib.nj.us/symposium.htm.

Media Contact: Cathy K. Donovan
(856) 225-6627
E-mail: catkarm@camden.rutgers.edu