Background:

Nina Chung Dwyer is a painting student in GW's M.F.A. program.  Her thesis paintings focus on formalistic elements of contrast, color, pattern, positive/negative space, and how those elements are expressed in still-life painting.  The paintings breakdown a commonplace set of images to reveal the underlying structure of abstract forms and colors.

Iman Al Kawari is a visual communications major working on "Cross-Cultural Calligrams."  One aspect of her thesis discusses and illustrates the significant influence Islamic art, specifically Arabic Calligraphy, has on "Art Nouveau," a famous European art movement.  A calligram means a word, phrase or sentence written in a particular form. 

Brandon Andrusic addresses the concrete world through photography and presents these photographic images on surfaces from 1950s automobiles.  His project consists of a hood, trunk lid, front quarter panel, rear quarter panel and a seat.  The pieces are freestanding elements mounted on bases and are arranged in space that simulates the entire vehicle.

Jenilyn Johnson-Roman, a native of Maine, addresses the concrete world through terracotta sculptures.  These sculptures of androgynous human figures, varying in size from several inches to several feet, are assembled in groups and often crowded onto small pedestals.  Her work, titled "Crowd Compositions," features 25 small figures and three large figures.  Johnson-Roman's design method is based on what she calls a "field event," a concentration of color and texture compositions.  By standardizing the bodies, although they seem to have individual personalities, the theme reinforces the visual effect of crowds of people. 

For more information, please call Lenore Miller at (202) 994-1525.

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