"WLCM BCK" Show at Mason Gross Galleries

Mason Gross Galleries current exhibition, "WLCM BCK" exhibits the work of second year MFA graduate students, and Rutgers facility.  The exhibition use of organizing the space into three sections, often with like media next to each other, and systematic spacing of the work (60" to center) creates an airy and cohesive environment. Although airy and cohesive, I felt the lighting could be a little softer due to the intensity of the white walls. Here are some works I found compelling:

Raphael Montanez Ortiz's "THE DARK SIDE OF LIBERITY" uses a computer generated painting and collage 96" x 48" to comment on illegal immigration to America.  The Statue of Liberty, "that once with arm held high lit the way to liberty no longer signals the way," depicted with her torch down is uninviting. The bottom of the statue shows the plight of illegal immigrants to the "Land of the Free."  I was captivated by the unusual poster-like quality to this image, with it's commanding scale.  His message comes out of an ongoing debate in America about the treatment of illegal immigrants. The Statue with an arm once held high to our ancestors is now down turned to future immigrants with the same hopes our ancestors once had.  His point of view is supported by imagery and text.  Though well written and thought provoking, I thought the text was not needed to support his claim due to the strength of his imagery.
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In the same room is, Caetylnn Booth's 2010 Oil on linen on wood panel, entitled "Checkpoint." Although similar color pallets, I think it was a smart move to place them on different walls due to their different mediums.  In Caetylnn Booth's piece, she uses a night time pallet to experiment with light. It is extremely interesting how she sets up her 16" x 48" composition to abstract the space.  At first I thought her oil painting was a complex view looking outside an airplane.  I was later informed that it is the shadows of a gated fence. I like how in certain areas she thickly applies oil paint to suggest the importance of the medium.
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Featured to the next room on the right is Betsy VanLangen's 2010 Digital Photograph entitled "Paige." I liked how this photograph was placed in the other room by Shane Whilden's Newgrey Digital print, because both works are similar scale and digital prints. "Paige" is a vibrant  frontal portrait of a woman with face paint.  I am really interested in the large scale, 30" x 40", high contrast and the intensity of the blue eyes. I think scale really plays an important role in emphasizing the intimacy and confrontation of this image.
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In the back dark room is Toby MacLennan's 2010 video entitled, "BITTING INTO A PIECE OF THE DAY."  Her video features the human figure in dreamlike settings. In part of the video a male is wrapping himself to objects in the room, slowing becoming more involved with his surroundings, much like a snow ball gaining momentum. I thought the black and white juxtaposed with color footage was extremely unusual, but at the same time I felt reminiscent of this piece. The use of black and white video with the whimsical quality of the figures reminded me of William Kentridge's video work. 

Overall, I think the organization of the space, often with like media by each other, and systematic spacing of the work created an airy and cohesive environment. For our BFA 2010 show, 60" to center is an effective spacing system. I like the white walls, but it might be nice to dim the lights and have the wall with the title another color.  The work of the "WLCM BCK" show was strong and makes me excited to see what's to come.