Amidst Gelb Gallery’s blank white walls, a large collage of Megan Paulson, Instructor in History, with stretched out 3D Arms pops out from the flat surface. Created from mini photographs of her students, the contrasting faces created a mosaic of Paulson, welcoming all community members into the gallery.
Last Friday, the Art 505 reception showcased artworks of faculty, alumni, and students across campus. Each artwork was accompanied by artist statements that provided a glimpse into the meaning behind each piece. Created last spring, the pieces served to challenge traditional portraiture, according to Art 505 Instructor Renée Silva.
“The fun of the [portrait] project was to create space and create representation of a wider range of identities on campus outside of the gold-framed portraits we see around campus… We looked at some activist artists who appropriate existing materials to challenge representation in different ways. For example, the photographer Alexander Bell. And, we talked about the impact of what happens when only certain identities get represented and other identities don’t. We also talked about challenging the European lens of portraiture, [which is] head and shoulders,” said Silva.
Reflecting on the gallery’s impact, many students appreciated how it represented Andover’s multifaceted community. Sebastian Cynn ’24 found that it was enriching to see his friends’ artwork, while also gaining insight into the artists whom he may not have known.
“I think [the portraits are] really cool. I think it’s a way to show the community and all of the people within it, and you get to see people in a perspective that you haven’t seen before. And, you get to see people you might not have seen before around campus. It shows you just how vibrant our campus is and how full of life it is, and how many people there are on campus in so many different ways,” said Cynn.
The huge, centered embrace of Paulson was not only charming for attendees, but also meaningful to Paulson herself. She shared the backstory of the piece and her emotional reaction to seeing it on display.
“I was nervous at first, and I asked if there was a way they could make me up of all of my students. My students make me who I am… I cried, it was so moving for me when I saw the end product. It was amazing and captured teaching for me. The hard work it took for them to create it, and the thoughtfulness when creating the artwork… The large hands show how I feel. I always want to give everyone a big hug all of the time,” said Paulson.
The reception also proved to be a rich source of inspiration for attending artists, offering fresh perspectives on mediums used, unique concepts, or even 3D elements. Nicha Hasuwannakit ’25, a student currently taking Art 505, expressed this sentiment.
“I am taking inspiration through the incorporation of 3D elements. I already have the general concept for my artwork and have started working on it. I am planning on using multiple media similar to the other artworks in the exhibit. I was thinking of including more texture, through cloth or adding a frame. The artists used certain objects to make the painting feel more alive,” said Hasuwannakit.
