MORGANTOWN — Nine students look to blur the line between art and life with “Closer,” an exhibit on display through March 26 at Monongalia Arts Center.
Composed mainly of collage-based artwork, in the forms of digital prints, mixed media, screen-print and risograph, the free exhibit can be viewed from 3-7 p.m. weekdays.
The central focus of the pieces is the connection to real life, according to exhibit organizer Michael Parsons, an art education major at WVU. The style would be considered contemporary collage and printmaking.
“Just over 100 years ago, artists such as Pablo Picasso and Hannah Höch began cutting apart and reassembling photographs and newspapers as a way of creating art,” said Parsons, a multimedia artist and musician. “The drive from modern artists throughout the rest of the 20th century to bring art and life together fueled the acceptance of collage and photography as legitimate art forms.
“This change in the landscape of art also allowed artists to create more personal work than ever before. Combining photographic depictions and conceptual renderings of a subject within a single artwork creates multiple interpretations, yet unity. Including photographs, quotes and everyday objects in art pulls the gap between ‘what is art’ and ‘what is life’ closer.”
To see more of Parsons’ art, follow him on Instagram @parsons_art. MAC is at 107 High St.
Info: 304-292-3325 or info@monartscenter.com.
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Art by Cara Colletti 
Hanging art by Michael Parsons 
