Guest artist exhibition titled “Essential Work” by Jefreid Lotti will be hosted in Gallery 217 at NSU, with the opening reception on Sept. 29. This guest exhibition is a free event sponsored by the department of communication, media and the arts, and will run until Oct. 12.
Gallery 217 is located in the Performing and Visual Arts Wing of the Don Taft University Center and highlights visual art by students, faculty and professionals throughout the academic year.
Juliana Forero, adjunct professor for the museum studies and gallery practices course, oversees the student project of putting together an exhibition in Gallery 217, and those responsible for bringing Lotti’s exhibit to NSU.
“Students that are taking this course, many of them are learning for the first time the back end of putting an exhibition together. This may be the first time for many NSU students to experience an art gallery. Many of the students in the course are not coming from a visual arts background,” said Forero.
Forero continued, “We are all learning about this artist, as this is the first time working with them. Having the students make decisions about the exhibit, and I guide and support them, but they are the ones making the decisions of the font, the position of the walls, and really thinking about the process. It is their thought process and their decision making.”
Lotti is a Cuban born artist based in South Florida and his exhibition “Essential Work” features pieces he created while at the mechanic shop he worked at. The shop stayed open throughout the pandemic as it was deemed as essential work when many other places were closed, influencing the pieces Lotti created.
Lotti uses a technique called plein air painting, which typically consists of artists painting outdoor landscapes with the subject in view. The guest exhibition in Gallery 217 will feature 20 to 40 pieces, created by Lotti with fast strokes and vibrant colors.
Forero was able to speak on how the pandemic influenced Lotti’s art and its interpretation.
“It is important for people to know how the community and victors connect to it [the exhibition] and that’s our roles as curators. The students started to think about how the thematics of essential workers can relate to their own experiences. So, topics about isolation is going to be key. The artwork is a platform for us to have an internal conversation with the students and that conversation should be reflected with the community and those who visit.”
Visitation to Gallery 217 is limited to NSU faculty and students, with only 15 people in the space at one time. “Essential Work” will be available to view by appointment. Those interested in the guest exhibit or Gallery 217 can contact Kandy Lopez at klopez1@nova.edu for more information.
