The reception for the “Exploring Layers, Mixed-Media by Shelley Graham Turner” art exhibition brought students and members of the Oswego community together in an appreciation of artwork that emphasized emotional expression.

The reception, held Sept. 7 at Tyler Art Gallery in Oswego State’s downtown location, featured professional artist Shelley Graham Turner, as well as senior creative writing major David Drake and senior bachelor of fine arts major Nicole Frisbie. The show kicked off an exhibition that will be on display until Oct. 19 as part of the Downtown Artists Series.

“The Downtown Artists Series is an opportunity for student poets, artists and musicians to reflect upon and react to the work on exhibit,” according to the Tyler Art Gallery website.

Turner spoke on her inspiration for the paintings that decorated the walls of the gallery, while Frisbie presented her painting and Drake read poems inspired by Turner’s work.

Amy Bartell, coordinator of Oswego community art exhibitions, said she sought out Turner nearly two years ago because of her unique, abstract ways of expressing complex emotions.

“I really enjoy her curiosity,” Bartell said. “There’s a fearlessness about her approach and an effervescence about her line work that reminds me to be open to exploring new techniques in media, but also to use color in inquisitive ways.”

Turner said she works with many different materials and styles that vary based on her emotion while she paints, and she hopes the students and community members that see her work at the gallery will feel those emotions come through the painting.

“If you look at it, [there are] layers of color and texture and marks, but it’s more layers of emotions,” Turner said. “It has its own meaning to everybody.”

Tasked with using Turner’s work as inspiration, Frisbie said she tried to create a more abstract piece of artwork than her typical style, and the result was a painting that told a journey of struggle and recovery.

“I never think my art’s finished, but I think this one’s finished,” Frisbie said. “It was nice to just finish it, look back at it, and know that it’s done. It’s how I wanted to see it.”

Drake’s two poems, on display next to Frisbie’s painting, had what he described as layers of meaning, with one being about the world and the other about the personification of freedom. He said he was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the gallery and share his work with viewers.

“At first, I wasn’t all that sure that I was doing Shelly’s work justice with the kind of poems that I had written,” Drake said. “That was part of the challenge for me…Usually I go with prose, but to step away out of my own comfort zone and write poetry, I think it’s a growth experience.”

Visiting assistant professor Stephanie Pritchard recommended Drake for the project after seeing his talent and fun-loving attitude in her classes. After attending the event, she said she was glad to see a diverse spread of art on display for Oswego State students and community members alike.

“I think [Drake’s] poems will really resonate with the people who are here because of his very, very careful word choice and all of the images that he tries to pull through in his poems,” Pritchard said. “It’s just a wonderful way to connect and bridge the college and community together.”

Kiera Thompson, a senior marketing and graphic design major, who interned with Bartell to set up the exhibit, said the gallery is a great way to diversify the artistic awareness of Oswego State and the surrounding community.

“I think that we’re spreading a lot more culture throughout the city, which is necessary for making it more beautiful in the end,” Thompson said.

Literacy education major and graduate student Emily Langton said the gallery provided a rewarding experience to see emotion expressed outward in such a welcoming setting.

“It’s cool to have it down here because I think even people in the community come and see it,” Langton said. “It’s such a good opportunity to get work out, being able to show people what you do.”

Bartell said she is always happy to bring artists like Turner, Frisbie and Drake together for the Downtown Artist Series because it creates a connection between the college and community in a powerful way.

“Art is an integral component to our college-community connection,” Bartell said. “That connection between the student work and the professional’s work is really a unique component of the Oswego State Downtown experience.”

Photo by Shelby Lagray-Masters | The Oswegonian