Date of Graduation

5-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts in Art (MFA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Art

Advisor/Mentor

Springer, Bethany L.

Committee Member

DeWitt, Dylan J.

Second Committee Member

Hulen, Jeannie L.

Third Committee Member

Maizels, Michael

Fourth Committee Member

McConnell, Mathew S.

Keywords

Philosophy; religion and theology; Communication and the arts; Art; Fine art; Sculpture

Abstract

Dinner is an interactive exhibition which presents appropriated works of art collected and hung in a clustered salon style, as well as a fully realized recreation based on a 16th century Dutch banquet still-life, which presents guests with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, breads, and wine to share and imbibe. Dining ware is provided for guests at the entrance to the exhibit, as are suggested topics of conversation, which are presented on slips of paper for guests to carry with them throughout their time in the space. Within the collection of wall-mounted works are references to ancient Greek and Roman marble statues, portraits of European elites spanning the 17th and 18th century, and more modern children’s cartoons from the 1980s and 90s. The disparate references align into a singular motif by using repetition of color, pose, framing and material within the artworks. This installation explores themes of beauty, class, privilege, history, excess, and humor while providing a space for cultivating deeper conversations on said subjects through the act of sharing, looking, and eating.

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