Tribute to Kandinsky by Ashley Dowdy

Several Faberge style eggs/ artworks were presented in the VCU art education exhibition. One particular piece titled, Tribute to Kandinsky, by artist Jessica Fitzgerald, presented us with a bright, cheery, whimsical reference to the Faberge egg. The egg, covered in spirals, polka dots, and many bright colors, is positioned up high on a stand of quirkily twisted gold wire. The twists of the wire can be seen repeated in the pattern, which blankets the egg itself.

The original Faberge eggs were often very organized, with great attention to detail. Those with specific subject matter referenced politics, war, religion etc. Fitzgerald appears to be scoffing at such heavy subject matter. Her egg references the whimsical and fun side of life. Child like designs, patterns and colors laugh at the idea of formality that existed in early Faberge. Yet, by elevating Tribute onto a gold stand, the artist is implying that these ideas hold just as much importance as the ideas behind its Faberge predecessors.

With her piece, Jessica forces us to look at a historical form of art in an entirely new context.

Eggcellent Review of Cassie Ford’s Egg by Jessica Fitzgerald

When I came upon Cassie Ford’s delicately designed egg, a feeling of opposites seemed to come over me. The featheriness gave me a feeling of softness and brittleness, yet the choice of gold paint gave me this sense of sturdiness and strength. Could the egg be addressing the thought of the independent woman?

It is almost apparent that Ford’s work of art is a display of feminism. The usage and positioning of the gold paint, feathers and iridescent stones gives a very “I am woman, hear me sing” kind of sense. The feathering almost serves as some kind of protection, possibly to disguise the egg. The gold paint also serves as a mask, making the viewer think of the robustness and power of a solid gold object.

Given that the egg was not placed on a stand, the conclusion could be made that the egg, or women representatively can hold their, own. The reality that the focus is placed on the front of the egg, with an opening in the feathers, opposed to the backside, which is hidden by feathers, implies that women should be respected for their inner beauty and intelligence and not stared at from behind.

The iridescence of the stones also adds to the feminine visual quality, but also adds to the mystic wonder of the minds and actions of women. If the jewels were not iridescent, subsequently the feeling would change.

This egg generates a feeling of feminism, not implying the Feminist movement, but a quality of delicacy and simplicity that is often found in the female realm of life. The egg also has a great implication of the fact, or thought, that women can stand strong and hold their own, while also supporting this fragility that is sometimes evident. If these were the intentions of the artist, I would have to say that she did a successful job using symbolism, and the shallowest of viewers should be able to uncover the beauty of the egg to find the significance.

Review by Gabriel Branch

This piece is about Spring. It consists of multiple organic elements; incorporating an egg, flower petals, leaves, and what appears to be the stamen of another flower. The egg is painted lavender and the petals and leaves are attached in such a way as to suggest a flower bud. Most likely the intended look is that of a rose bud. This piece is about fertility, rebirth, beginning. The egg is an obvious birth symbol. The flower in bud is about to be born again as flowers open and close with the day. The stamen, being the reproductive organ of the flower, is placed at the tip of the bud and functions as a clear reference to fertility and birth. There are intentional undertones of Spring throughout the piece. Even the choice to put the piece on green paper is a reference to the season.

Review of Jason's Artwork by Kelly Hickman

You come home from a long day at work, you grab dinner, and all you can think about is laying your head down on a nice soft pillow for a good night's rest. Well, if your pillow is lke this work of art, you have a rough night ahead of you. This "pillow" has been transformed to have a bumpy, jagged surface; anything but conducive to pleasant dreams. It's color remains white, but the new texture brings shadows along with it that further distance you from laying down your head. Its size is about right for a regular pillow. It is even sunken in the middle indicating where a head may have once layed.

And it seems as if the purposes for this transformation could be many. One interpretation may be that the artist is representing a rest filled with nightmares, where their head just could not find peace. Maybe they toss and turn and just can not get comfortable. Maybe the artist wishes you to think again about the qualities of your pillow and how much you may take it for granted. Or maybe the artist just wanted to guard their pillow from anyone else laying on it. Who knows? The artist wants you to think. And the next time you go to lay down your head, make sure you look twice to see what kind of night you are in for.

Review by Angelia Davis

Chelsea's "Egg" has been painted a rosey metallic color and decorated with various size and colored beads. A sun radiates from the top. In between the 'spokes' are blue beaded flowers. "Egg" rests on a marshmallow like tricornered pedestal with matching rosey painted divets on each side. On one of the rosey spots is a line of beads that match the ones used on "Egg."

"Egg" is feminine in both the literal and metaphorical sense. The colors used are traditionally associated with women. The egg shape, a universal symbol of fertility. However, blue, a "male" color, is used in a systematic pattern on "Egg". Perhaps the blue flowers suggest that there is some maleness to this feminine object. It mirrors the duality of the sexes within ourselves. However, because the blue is being used to make flowers suggests that even though "Egg" has the knowledge of the maleness of itself, it remains purely feminine.