Mary Cipperman ’21:
“It’s the notes you don’t play that matter,” says Philadelphia artist, Benjamin F. Weaver. His gallery, Color Equations, ran in the Crawford Campus Center Gallery from January 30 to March 2 and closed with a jazz performance from EA musicians.
With its vibrant colors and striking optical illusions, the exhibit exemplifies the energy that is characteristic of Weaver’s work. Susan Coote, the gallery coordinator, explains, “I thought these painting would be perfect for February with all the bright color.” She adds that Weaver’s experimentation in geometric forms also allows for discussion among students.
To accomplish these profound effects, Weaver explains that his line work – or lack thereof – tricks the eye. He comments, “I use mathematical principles to define relationships between forms. Some of the paintings have the same set of squares on both sides of the work but flipped 180 degrees, so if you rotate the painting it would look exactly the same. This optical effect suggests there are two different forms within the work when there is only one that repeats.” In his artist statement, Weaver explains that reductive elements allow for a sense of unresolved tension; he adds that the absence of lines interrupts the “logical progression” of his shapes. Coote compares the illusions to the work of artists like Maurits Cornelis Escher, a renowned Dutch graphic artist.
These elements emerged from more than 20 years of professional experience. After college, Weaver says, “I was looking for a job and ended up calling a stained glass studio, where I started working for about a year and a half.” Here, he discovered his passion for art and began painting. “I enjoy the thought process behind the work and the ideas behind the concepts,” he explains. “I have always loved turning a conceptual thought into a painting that someone might enjoy.”
This collection, Color Equations, arose over a span of several years. Rather than working on just one gallery, Weaver says, “I develop my techniques and allow shapes and form to change over time until certain consistent themes arise in my body of work.” He then compiles his work into shows that he shares with communities like Episcopal.
Several students expressed their love for these pieces. Wendy Sun ‘21, a visual artist at Episcopal, says, “I liked the gallery; the bright color reminds me of the Chinese New Year. I really just enjoyed looking at the artwork.”
With this gallery, Coote aims to connect students across artistic disciplines. For this reason, she invited EA jazz musicians to compose music based on the artwork. She says, “I thought the movement in the paintings might influence them.” They performed music, inspired by the works, on Wednesday, February 28. Coote says, “I love that each gallery show has the chance to touch different students in different ways.”
The gallery inspired EA musicians to pursue their passions. Anya Kholi ‘21, a flutist, says, “No matter who you are, where you come from, or how old you are, artists can inspire you through their work. By listening to people play at galleries and admiring the art on the walls, I’m inspired to keep playing my instrument.” Another jazz musician, Nina Petillo ‘19, comments, “I think what inspires me most when I’m playing any style of music, especially jazz, is what I see and hear around me, whether I’m listening to different musicians, or looking at a painting that influences a certain style. 2D art offers a translation of music into a painting that can inspire and encourage musicians to reach out of their comfort zone.”