ART ON THE TOWN: APRIL EDITION

By G.D.Rocha

Edited by Colin Schmidt

The City of Wilmington celebrated the first Friday of April with a brand-new edition of Art on the Town. 

The Delaware College of Art and Design was the first stop worth a mention. This thriving and expanding academic institution once again put on a varied display that showcased works from around the Brandywine Valley. Below are some of the compositions that stood out:

 A piece by Wilmington artist Donna Cusano entitled “Color Theory: Pastels,” produced a jarring and intriguing combination of revolving and meticulous texture, perceived through a widening spectrum of changing colors. Likewise remarkable was a still life by Carol Stevenson entitled ” Inspiration from March.” Dotted with a few stresses of heavily sedated blue, juxtaposed with an earthly and painterly brown, the piece featured two cups of oil and a peeling orange set against a backdrop of complete emptiness that hinted at the dulling and aging effects of time. Another artistic production belonged to Dennis Young, who employed a seductive meld of reds, crimsons, purples, and oranges to form a swirling background. The foreground featured a tempting and provocative female nude reclining on a slanted rock. Looking a bit like a tip-of-the-hat to the Pre-Raphaelite school that centered around this area, the painting was a successful blend of wanton sexuality and calculated poise.

Another stop on the Loop was the Chris White Gallery, located at the corner of 7th and Shipley St. This pristine and classy loft featured a collaboration by two former student-residents at Winterthur Gardens. Dedicating the upper level to the works of Nancy Bresil, the Gallery featured a dozen photographs of early American artifacts dating back to the eight years of the Washington administration. Along with photographing items like mugs that featured the face of our first president, Bressl joined each image to a contemporary equivalent from the Obama era. In a skillful juxtaposition of past and present, Bresl placed tee shirts and pictures of campaign ads from the 2008 and 2012 elections alongside similar images taken of Washingtonian paraphernalia. The exhibit gave testament to how, despite the many notable social changes that have occurred since the birth of our Republic, the mechanics of political advocacy changed little.

Down in the basement, one could find the work of Carrie Mae Smith, which featured a full-sized replica of a modest sleeping quarter. In a piece that provided a didactic and tutorial experience entrenched in social awareness, Smith made it a point to showcase the level of separation that existed between Colonial and Victorian masters and their servants. Considering that servants often lived under the same roof as their masters, the intricate degree to which the latter went to ensure a strict physical and cultural segregation of the classes was as extreme as the sight of a renovated sleeping quarter in the basement of a lofty art gallery in downtown Wilmington. According to Smith, she picked this location for her exhibit since traditional servants’ quarters were often located in basements and attics. Smith believed that displaying her work below an exhibition featuring aristocratic Washington, made the whole project even more poignant.

Another notable destination was Zaikka Indian Grille, located on Lower Market St, which featured the abstract and symbolic works of Jenniffer Donil. Bed-ridden by mono during the spring of last year, Donil refused to remain artistically idle. Hugely impressed and influenced by the quilting and crocheting traditions of her mother and grandmother, she took an active interest in what she called geometric “anthropological art.” Determined to capture the intricate patterns found in folk art, she adhered to the strict use of a ruler and compass as well as black pencils to create black and white patterns and motifs seen throughout modern and ancient cultures. In aspiring to create works as perplexing as they are personal, Donil relishes the fact that not one of her pieces will receive the same interpretation from two different viewers. Proudly displaying a copy of a work entitled “Daisies and Roses” which permanently hangs at Penn State University, this up-and-coming artist is a pleasure to converse with, if one has any interest in the history of the visual arts. As a plus, the Indian establishment complemented the original artwork of Donil with the musical talent of local musician Ed Dwornick. Wielding his guitar and jazz flute, Dwornick pleased the crowd of patrons and tourists alike with soft renditions of songs by Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers Band, and the Grateful Dead.

Xtreme Pizza in Loma served as an appropriate last stop. In a creative effort to mix things up, the stylish locale presented the sounds of Wilmington R&B duo Tilting Windmills. Playing a stripped-down set, the Windmills soothed the audience with their pop-tinged variations on Soul. 

The city of Wilmington will host another Art on the Town on the first Friday of May.