By Jeremy Binning
Pop for the People, a pop art themed exhibit, opened Feb. 15 in the Burke Gallery. It features art from famous pop artists like Andy Warhol as well as artists from the Plattsburgh area.
M.I. Devine, guest co-curator of the exhibit, wrote a book called “Warhol’s Mother”. The exhibit is filled with quotes from his book that surround the artwork displayed on the blank white walls. Each line and word is an attempt to speak for the artwork it surrounds, Devine said.
“I just wanted to make more people aware of pop-art and show that it’s just as important to art as other types,” Devine said.
The exhibit highlights a wide range of pop-art, from street-style art to arts and craft type paintings.
Amy Guglielmo, who co-curated the exhibit with Devine, said it was easy for them to get work for the exhibit because of how many people wanted to donate and contribute. She also said how there was a lot of experimentation and said the most difficult part was putting the pieces together .Guglielmo said she also loved the pieces of writing surrounding the exhibit.
“I think it’s all really impactful and has a sense of humor and whimsy and playfulness,” Guglielmo said.
The exhibit took approximately six to eight weeks to come together and open, according to M.I. Devine. Amy Guglielmo said it was a little more challenging to open the exhibit in a pandemic but she never doubted it could happen.
“I recently went with my girlfriend as a little date and we both fell in love with the artwork,” Michael Eskander, an undergraduate student, said. “The words surrounding the paintings were my favorite part of the exhibit because I felt that it fitted with the artwork it was next to.”
The exhibit is open until March 12th and events for the showing will be announced. Devine said he plans to do more events and projects in the community and campus in the future.
