Instagram is not just for selfies
By: Michael Groissl
Staff Writer/Photographer
Instagram has allowed modern artists to create their own gallery in a matter of seconds and give viewers a way to admire their work for free.
Artist-curators Janice Caswell and Erick Johnson teamed up with 11 other artists to bring their exhibit, “Double Vision: Artists Who Instagram,” to Hudson Valley Community College on Thursday, Feb. 7.
The New York City-based artists created their exhibition to show how artists connect with their followers, giving them access to what’s going on in their studios and things they see on the street.
The discussion, held in the Bulmer Telecommunications Center auditorium from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., included work by abstract artists Rosaire Appel, Joan Grubin, Mary Lum, Tom Martinelli, Doreen McCarthy, Tom Nicol, Chris Sauter, Karen Schifano and Karen Schiff.
Caswell and Johnson, whose own work was included in “Double Vision,” discussed how they incorporated Instagram with their art. All of the artists are active Instagram users. Some are fairly new to the medium, while others have experience using the platform.
According to Grubin, the visual aspects and appeal of Instagram surpass that of Facebook, which is what drew her to using Instagram in the first place.
“[Instagram is] a way of speaking among the people you follow and follow me about having a visual, non-verbal conversation and I just love that about it,” she said.
The facilitator of the talk, Tara Fracalossi, associate professor and gallery director, asked the artists if they use filters when posting on Instagram.
Most of the artists responded that they do not use filters, or little if any. But one artist, Schiff, stuck out. “I use like seven filters,” she said. “I have a really good time with the filters.”
The exhibit, located in the Teaching Gallery at Hudson Valley Community College, will be on display between Feb. 7 and March 9, 2019. The gallery displays 11 artists’ works on two floors and is free and open to the public.
Appel, @rappelx, she uses 16 pigment prints with hand-colored borders, each 11 x 11” in her peice “Swift.”
Grubin, @joangrubin, and in her installation “Partial Inventory” she used acrylic on paper, tape, and it’s approximately 120 x 168 x 20.
Lum, @marymlum, and in her piece “Marais” she used acrylic on paper 55 x 76.5.”
Martinelli, @tominelli, used acrylic & fluorescent acrylic on canvas, 19 x 14” in his piece “Untitled.”
McCarthy, @mcduffdor, and in her installation titled “Pause” she uses inflated vinyl, 108 x 84 x 80.
Nicol, @tom_thomasnicol, used acrylic on resin, 14 x 10.5” in his piece “Untitled 8-5-17.”
Sauter, @porkasmith, and in his piece “Sacred Geometry” he uses Sewn felt, wooden stand, approximately 60 x 36.”
Schifano, @karenschifano, and her piece titled “Drip, Drip” she uses Flashe on canvas, 24 x 36.”
Schiff, @karen.schiff, and in her piece titled “Untitled (Thicket)” she uses acrylic, latex and Flashe on panel, 30 x 24.”