The latest show in the Virginia Thomas Memorial Gallery, also known as the USI Student Gallery, will make viewers feel nostalgic.
Created by Ashley Banks, senior studio art and PK-12 art education major, and Payton Henn, a junior visual arts major, “toy with me” will be on display until April 18.
According to Banks and Henn, the idea for the show began in an art history class taught by Greg Blair, assistant professor of art and design. After Banks had overheard Henn say to a classmate, “I wish that I could find an excuse to make some toys,” she said, “a little light bulb lit up in my head because I saw in the hallway that you could sign up for the USI student gallery spaces.” Banks then proposed to Henn that they make toys to fill the room.
“I love art that you touch and mess with and play with and get close to,” said Henn.
“There’s also something so beautiful about tactile art and our age of technology, and being on our phones all the time,” said Banks, “and then being able to make something with your hands and then have other people mess with it with their hands. That’s a really fun way of communicating that I don’t think a lot of people tend to do.”
For Henn, the biggest challenge of the exhibition was the fridge because she has never created a piece that is bigger than she is.
At this time, she has no intention of making a piece of its scale again. “It is so challenging,” said Henn. “I pick it up with all of my muster, it’s falling over. It’s crooked. I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel, then something else goes wrong.”
Henn called herself a problem-causer and emphasized how much more difficult the fridge was to create than they had initially anticipated.
However, part of what made the fridge so challenging to create was the fact that they wanted it to have rounded corners.
Other elements of their thoughtful design can be seen in the height at which they chose to hang their artworks.
Generally, the center of an artwork is hung 5 feet from the ground, though the number varies depending on the space, to account for the eyeline of viewers.
“We hung everything really tall on purpose to make you feel small,” said Banks.
As for Banks, her biggest challenge was working in a new medium. Since she was student teaching and did not have access to the ceramics studio, Banks found herself doing more with felt and creating soft sculptures.
“I’ve definitely gained a lot of skills in my fiber arts in the past couple months of doing this,” said Banks.
Regardless of where their artistic endeavors lead them, one thing that is clear about the duo is how well they work together. From flawlessly finishing each other’s thoughts and sentences to divvying up their artwork within minutes, the pair has great chemistry.
“I think we really get along; we share a lot of the same ideas,” said Henn.
“The show is called “toy with me” because I feel like me and Ashley were playing together while we were making the art for the show. We’re making toys, but like, making art for us is like a form of play,” said Henn.
Several of the artworks in the show are collaborations between Banks and Henn. Banks also mentions that they took inspiration from each other and “played” off of what the other was doing.
Henn is excited to see how people interact with the artwork, but they ask that people treat it respectfully.
“I’m excited for the reception,” said Banks. “There’ll be food, smiles, laughter and love.” The reception is from 4 to 5 p.m. on April 10 at the Virginia Thomas Memorial Gallery.
