Samuel Mbila
Prof. Doris Cacoilo
ART2631921
23 Feb 2026
Home Here Exhibition-Short Essay
Last Wednesday, our class had the oppurtunity to visit a little gallery exhibition within our art building. Home Here had various pieces of differing media and unique artstyles, each one with a specific message. I enjoyed the visit, taking note of certain peices that truly piqued my interest. It was clear this exhibition had a curatorial narrative touching upon what "home" means for all of us, and how those meanings can be presented through forms of art/creativity.
The first piece I'd like to speak on is Appropriation Bag. The piece, created by multi-media artist and designer Cheryl Riley, is actually part of a series featuring shopping bags adorned with an assortment of images/photos. The photos, pulled from ads and national/international publications, are meant to reflect the "consumer culture" many artists now find themselves in. This particular piece, as well as the others within its respective series, represent how artists can display their creativity in an "infinite" number of ways. No two bags are the same, each one featuring a selection of images with a shared theme or concept. I found interest in this piece due to its simplicity. Though the bag itself is nothing extraordinary, the idea/concept behind it is quite deep/meaningful. "Creativity isn't a product, it's a process"(The Art of Activism) is a quote from one of our earlier readings that comes to mind when I look at the bag. To think and craft the idea behind this bag not only would've taken time, but actually combining a set assortment of images to evoke a message takes proper thought as well.
The second piece I'd like to speak on is Transcendent Landscape #7. This sculpture, created/designed by Pat Lay, is meant to represent the relationship man has with both technology and nature. In our current world, it can feel as though the lines between nature and machine blur, as so much technology is ingrained within our daily lives. The piece has computer parts attached to it, meant to reflect man's entanglement with tech. As someone who believes modern technology is a blessing, I actively acknowledge how it can also become a curse. In the age of expansive social media and generative AI, the tangibility and sense of direction people once had in their lives appears to be fading. I believe this piece allows for important discussions to be brought up within groups of people/communities, as we must ensure that technology never takes over every aspect of life. Nature was given to us by God to fully utilize and appreciate, and regardless of how technology has become so advanced, it will never have soul. "We are often motivated more by emotional attachments to issues, perspectives, and politicians than by reasoned political positions"(The Art of Activism) is a quote that comes to mind when I look at this sculpture. This piece speaks to me on a more personal and self-reflective level, and from what can I tell, the same goes for Pat Lay herself.
In conclusion, this exhibit, and particulary these two pieces, definitely fascinated me. Though not resonating with me like both aforementioned works above, pieces such as Phantom Entanglement(by Jaz Graf) and everything Ward Mount painted still caught my eye. In a way, all the work featured in this exhibition connects to me as an artist, showing that I can evoke what I feel in a myriad of ways. I'm glad to have visited it.
Down below are photos I had taken of this gallery:
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