A Curator's Walkthrough of NEXT at the Corcoran

The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design debuted NEXT at the Corcoran: Class of 2012 on April 14. NEXT is a presentation of work by the graduating students of the Corcoran College of Art + Design. It gives the students an opportunity to display their work in the main gallery. Admission is free and the exhibit runs through May 20.

“The exhibition not only celebrates these talented artists at the outset of their careers, but also highlights the quality and uniqueness and breadth of the Corcoraneducational experience,” said Catherine Armour, provost and chief academic officer of the Corcoran College of Art + Design.

"This work provides an insider’s guide to the world of the tween generation, bringing us a very intimate and wholly honest portraits of several young girls confronting their own identities. The vivid and colorful sharpie text, written by the young women over the gorgeous casual color portraits of the subjects and sometimes their families, makes the portraits also self-portraits in which the diary- style entries are open and revealing. In one image, a young woman lovingly, reverently talks about her relationship with her mother in words written closely and precisely around her mother’s image, almost protecting and containing that the special relationship being written about. It is truly exceptional and emotionally very powerful work."

"Lush, gorgeous, rich, seductive large scale color photographs of the artist portray her image of self. What is so interesting about this work is that while she has stopped time in this fleeting moment of the photograph, her life vibrates and runs throughout the image, belying the medium itself. In one image, her blood pulses through a cut lip, and in another her body turns in an ephemeral objection to the moment of the photo, reminding the viewer of the insistence of life and time over image."

"This work takes on the issue of language and narrative in a completely different manner, taking a nearly scientific approach to assigning a color and numerical placement to the elements of spoken language. The projected color language on the wall becomes its own syncopated communication as the work on the floor collates several You Tube videos, creating a dialogue between the two parts of the installation which raises the issue of how technology affects communication."

"This is interesting work where the artist has chosen to express her ideas through the use of ceramics, a less common choice among emerging artists today. The installation of one of a kind objects crafted in similar materials and glazes forces the viewer to slow down and experience the journey, making pace and the contemplation over time forefront in the thoughts of materiality. This work also raises the issue of consumerism in society, perhaps arguing for an alternate relational approach for the viewer."

"This graduate student in Interior Design is exploring both exhibition and installation design through the use of 3d modeling systems and laser cutting techniques. Michelle transforms the motions utilized in basic yoga into a temporary installation space, to be installed in a variety of locations, such as a metro station, park, or office building, and converts the metrics of this movement into built form."

"This work takes on an iconic American trope, King Kong, revisiting the visual language of the narrative and confronting our collective understanding of the subtle and not so subtle racial undertones inherent in the story of this work."