Opening: Senior Thesis Show at University of the Arts Friday evening

Alexandra Lozier, Secrets Revealed, 2010. Blown glass, cast and fabricated sterling silver, tourmaline, resin.

This Friday, April 30th, seniors in the Crafts Department at University of the Arts in Philadelphia will celebrate the opening of their thesis show, “In the Moment, Over Time.” Twenty-four artists from different craft concentrations (ceramic, fibers, glass, metal, and wood are all offered at UA) will be showing pieces that are a culmination of their undergraduate education.

According to the Crafts Department the exhibition, “highlights progressive treatment of traditional methods of making,“and “unifies different mediums and perspectives by calling attention to thier shared commitments to materiality and process.” The show is accompanied by a professionally designed and printed 80-page catalog that features a piece by each artist as well at their portrait and artist statement.

For her featured piece, glass-concentration student Alexandra Lozier constructed a reliquary titled Secrets Revealed (2009). The work consists of a small egg-shaped vessel which holds a silver bee crawling up a green tourmaline stalk. She explains her use of materials in her artist statement: “Metal allows me to be a magician. Through the processes of casting, I instantly transform objects from organic materials directly into silver. Glass allows me to be a scientist, blowing particular vessels to encapsulate a specimen.”

All the artists have a distinct use of materials, and some other striking work in the catalogue include Alexandra Winiewski’s Whig Dress (2009) made completely out of hair extensions, Rachel Camacho’s Knux (2009) which are bejeweled handcuffs and brass knuckles, and Kayla Eleanor Block’s Service (2009), an uncanny set of cups and spoons which reference the human body.