Professionalism
shines in show
By Christine G. Adamo
On-line Forty-Niner
The
visual communications class of 2004 teaches
us an invaluable lesson in attaching meaning
to things we are only willing to see flatly
or fleetingly.
Promotional
posters for the Graphic Design Junior Show,
on exhibit through 5 p.m. today at the West
and East Max L. Gatov at Cal State Long
Beach, were wildly lambasted along with
program director Tanya Cummings, for a play
on words and images that went awry.
 The
dissent and conflict the issue raised by
the posters, which featured a white noose
on a black background, will serve the 23
contributing artists well. Ethics-related
issues will resurface at some point in their
careers as graphic design, advertising and
merchandising professionals. Nothing implied
or stated in their actual work indicates
a blatant breach of public trust or an interest
in promoting racism or ignorance.
To
the contrary, the students’ entries — logos,
letterhead, menus, brochures, movie posters,
and a host of other mock-ups — represent
highly divergent interests, attitudes and
sensibilities. These compliment one another
and create a banquet for the eyes that spreads
across seven gallery walls.
Student
Leila Hessanian’s high contrast posters
and advertising treatments are on display.
The artist statement that accompanies her
work begins with Warhol’s quote. “I’m afraid
that if you look at a thing long enough,
it loses all of its meaning.” Andy Warhol.
Hessanian
also thanked the group’s adviser Tanya Cummings,
for “motivating and inspiring [her] to grow
as a designer.”
Lulu
Biazus’ youthful, edgy portfolio evokes
images of tattoo parlors, stellar thrift
stores and merchandise that can only be
found off the beaten path. Noah Huber, whose
high-tech portfolio deserves special mention,
also expressed his gratitude for the challenge
and assistance he obtained from faculty
in compiling work for the show. Many of
the artists dedicated their work, created
through diligence and attention to detail,
to Cummings and others.
There
has been talk lately about breaking with
conformity and accepting ourselves and each
other as we are. This exhibit, and the hullabaloo
surrounding its promotion, has given us
the opportunity to test our resolve by resisting
the urge to operate on preconceived notions
or commit ourselves to hasty, misguided
conclusions.
If
you look at one thing long enough, you’re
bound to find alternate meaning in it.
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