Third-year art studio major Stephanie Lin scored first place with Burn, a wood-and-glue sculpture, in last Friday night’s Student Showcase at San Francisco’s de Young Museum, one of the nation’s leading art institutions.
The museum’s New Generations student and faculty advisory committee hosted the April 22 exhibition, Where To? The Call of the Times, comprising more than 70 works — visual art, films, performances, gallery talks and artist demonstrations by students from California universities and colleges.
A panel of judges selected works by five UC Davis students for inclusion in the one-night-only show, part of the museum’s Friday Nights series in the de Young’s “free zone.” More than 1,000 people turned out.
New Generations committee members voted for their favorites in Where To? the Call of the Times — and Lin picked up a $300 prize for Burn.
"I have never exhibited my work anywhere off-campus, and definitely did not expect my first formal exhibit to be at the de Young Museum," Lin said by e-mail. "As a young developing artist, this experience was more than I could have hoped for or imagined. It has been a huge encouragement, and inspired me to keep pushing my work further."
In her artist’s statement, Lin said Burn displayed her interest in tension, movement and rhythm — “echoing patterns of disruption, distortion and restoration found in nature, society and the individual.” She created Burn in the fall of 2010.
In calling for submissions, the museum asked for works based on the exhibition’s title and this description: “Our communities are responding in different ways to the social issues of our times such as the recession, human rights and climate change. The challenges ahead are dynamic and often troubling, yet we will continue to find solutions through activism and art. Where are we now, and where are we going?”
In submitting her artwork for the show, Lin wrote: “In times where demoralizing social issues are increasing at an alarming rate, more and more people are abandoning hope. I believe that this increased loss of hope is the urgent issue of the hour, and it poses dire consequences if left unaddressed.
“Without revived faith, attempts to implement change in societal, cultural, or global issues will not be permanently effective. “Burn serves as a reflection of the daunting challenge of finding the fragile balance amidst aggressive turmoil, and a reminder of its necessity in current times.
Lin also explained the process that led to her sculpture: “Burn developed through my studies in exploring material. I chose to conduct my investigation on Douglas fir 2-by-4s, and did extensive experimentation with this specific material, exposing it to all sorts of environments and manipulating it through various means.
“My discoveries became the foundation for the formation of my sculpture, and, in the construction process, I began integrating my own conceptual ideas into the piece.”
Lin said she is not certain what she will do after graduating. "But I would like to apply for graduate school and pursue a career in art therapy. While doing so, I plan to continue my studio practice."
The other UC Davis students who participated in the de Young exhibition:
- Prerna Dudani, undergraduate design major — The Wind, 2010, photo montage
- Dayee Leung, undergraduate design major — Go Vegetarian Once a Week, 2010, digitally created message campaign
- Samantha Schneider, undergraduate design major — Little Things, 2010, photograph
- Carol Shu, Master of Fine Arts candidate in design — The Last Leaf Left, 2009, mixed media
The organizers selected Dudani’s photo montage for the exhibition's postcard advertisement.
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Dave Jones, Dateline, 530-752-6556, dljones@ucdavis.edu