Hal Dockins
Contributing Writer
A swinging tree branch: While to some it is just a regular everyday occurrence in Mother Nature, it is also an opportunity to tell a story.
VCU Alumni Hannah Walsh is an artist who specializes in photography and video. She said that she found inspiration for her “hypnotic video of two branches swinging back and forth in sync.”
“I do a lot of reading,” Walsh said. “My ideas come from seeing things in the world that are related to what I’ve been reading.”
This is the kind of inspiration necessary to have work showcased at the 1708 Gallery, which held its Gallery Talk featuring the artists of the Crest art exhibition on Thursday, Oct 4.
Walsh was one the headlining artists at the presentation along with other recent graduates with ties to VCUarts. The artists fielded questions from the crowd of about 50 people about their work in the 1708 Gallery’s current exhibition.
Many VCU students attended the exhibit as a way to gain stimulation for their own art classes. Freshman Ben Wilson was a fan of the paintings in particular.
“The paintings really make me think. It doesn’t feel like a painting. It feels very natural,” Wilson said.
When freshman Lauren Terry returned to the exhibit, it was for more than just an extra credit opportunity.
“The first time I went it was First Friday Art Walk,” Terry said. “It’s really interesting to see the exhibits again and get a new perspective.”
One of the most popular pieces of artwork was a piece that represented a pair of hands gliding over an invisible ball on a black screen. As the hands continued their journey, visitors speculated as to what they were supposed to interpret.
“The first time I saw it, it was confusing,” Terry said. “There’s something kind of whimsical and kind of creepy about it.”
Freshman Austin Miles offered another perspective. “It’s interesting how all you can see is the hands and everything else is black,” Miles said. “She is describing it with her hands, showing us what is really there. I personally like really expressive artwork.”
The 1708 Gallery has been showcasing the work of talented Richmond artists since its inception in 1978. The nonprofit arts organization moved to its current location on 319 W. Broad St. in September 2001 where it continues to “connect the community to the work of living artists and is a leader among Richmond’s art scene,” according to the company’s website.
Executive Director Emily Smith knows that it takes perseverance to maintain one of the oldest artist-run galleries in the nation.
“The exhibition came about in just wanting to work with a group of artists in Richmond,” Smith said. “It ended up being seven women. It sort of just fell into place.”
The gallery puts on six to eight shows a year. There is usually a question and answer session where artists are encouraged to share the inspiration behind their artwork. Beside the list of regular artists who return to the gallery frequently, there is also a call for submissions which are reviewed by a jury to determine if they deserve to be showcased.
Smith was pleased with the turnout at the gallery and the presentation of the artists. “It’s been really interesting in that we’ve had a lot of students view the show,” Smith said.
“The work is very young and I think that’s compelling. If professors are sending their students, I consider that a success. There’s a lot of artwork that attracts different people.”
It attracts different people and artists alike, including Walsh, who said that she is grateful to have been able to been able to have her work shown.
“I feel really lucky to be part of this show,” Walsh said. “This is a really great gallery. It’s been a really great experience. It has that new, young contemporary art feel of Richmond.”