“Free Form” show comes to Rowan Art Gallery

Five artists involved with the Center for Emerging Visual Artists will have their work on exhibit at the Rowan University Art Gallery from April 22 to May 28.

The show, entitled “Free Form,” involves artwork by artists who do not yet have gallery representation. The show approaches organic forms and material in new and challenging ways.

“The artists who I brought together all deal with the organic forms from an interesting perspective,” said Amie Potsic, curator of “Free Form.”

In going with the theme, artist Susan Benarcik created sculptures made out of twigs. Potsic explains Benarcik’s work as “using [the] natural world to create new work.”

Gregory Brellochs, one of the artists involved with “Free Form,” said that art is a dialogue with nature and, like a bonsai tree; you can only attempt to guide it. “It’s about having nature be an intricate part of the work,” said Brellochs.

Each artist uses their own perspective toward the organic form. Ana B. Hernandez, an artist in the show, applies her Spanish heritage and feminine perspective when addressing the theme of Free Form. Coming from a family involved in the sewing industry, Hernandez used fabric in her work.

“ [It was] something I breathed as I was growing up,” Hernandez said.

Artist Christine Elfman’s work also involves the female form, but uses photography as a means of conveyance. Elfman studied different photographic processes developed in the 19th century for use in her work.

The drawings by artist Danielle Bursk involve abstract methods that resemble organic forms. Her work is composed of small lines that connect in order to create larger forms that are suggestive of objects.

“When I am creating the forms, I think about many things: nests, networks, webs, traps, nets and the interconnectivity of actions and associations,” Bursk said.

The CFEVA creates a support system in the region for artists and helps promotes an artist’s career through exhibitions and shows. CFEVA fosters a creative community in the Philadelphia area for artists.

In order to be eligible for CFEVA, one must no longer be a full time student and must not yet have gallery representation for their work.

“[CFEVA is] everything you don’t learn in art school that you need to know to survive as an artist,” Potsic said.

CFEVA isn’t about teaching how to make great art, but instead gives the artist tools to make a sustainable career.

“Free Form” <– (fix quotation marks) is in the Rowan University Art Gallery in Westby Hall. The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information on CFEVA visit cfeva.org.