Arielle Epstein

Introduction

The 2021 Thesis Exhibition offers a unique challenge and opportunity. With the desire to showcase the exceptional talent of the Boston University School of Visual Arts MFA candidates and maintain safe health practices during a pandemic, the notion of exhibition needs to be re-examined and re-designed. The visual identity of the exhibition should reflect the candidates as a collective, as well as the experience we are living through, a dynamic system bridging the idea of physical and virtual, referencing the time while also propelling us forward. Our group will engage with the MFA sculpture and painting departments to create a visual identity that reflects a larger experience. This document outlines our plans going forward.

Visual Identity

We’re navigating a bizarre time in the world and our lives — a worldwide pandemic, social and political cataclysm, educational abnormalities, and community alterations. All of this is on top of graduation and a new life upheaval in a few short months. We all have lots of questions, what will happen, will things get back to normal, how do I navigate this? The one question our groups kept coming back to was “where am I now?” We propose a visual identity themed by the consideration of the question: Where am I now? This can be interpreted physically or conceptually. It is intended as a broad prompt to create an open dialogue and understanding of current communal needs. By confronting inquiry of location and navigation, we are addressing a communally inclusive topic. An MFA thesis show is an opportunity to create a body of work that reflects a specific point in time — here I am, this is what I believe, this is where I am now — but today we are dealing with a unique time which makes us question, where am I? This is a persistent question of the human existence and encompasses the questions where do I belong, how do I fit in, where is home, where is my place in this world, and what is my purpose? Individuals, groups, and societies throughout time have asked these questions and will continue to ask these questions. The question ‘Where am I?’ has never felt more acute, both in our artistic practices and our practical life. We aim to use this prompt with our peers to help mark a place in time for each of us, and all of us, together as BU MFAs. We will each, ultimately, be in different places in the future, but today, in this time, we are in a similar construct and place. So, this theme is both universal and contemporary in its exploration.

Branding Team

Reem Alsanea

Claire Bula

Chrissy Casavant

Kari Everson

Kateri Gemperlein-Schirm

Michael Rosenberg

Sloane Schuchman

Process

Each Department was represented by a shape. The shape was determined by it's number of sides which reflected the floor the department was located on at 808 Commonwealth Avenue.

The color pallet spawned from the CMYK hex codes. Ultimately sculpture became blue, painting became red, and graphic design became green.

Posters

The posters were designed to be immersive among all three MFA departments. Plain posters were printed and circulated among the Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Design departments. Individuals were given a vague prompt: Create path out of the medium of your choice. The path must enter and exit an edge of the poster, and engage with the shape of the department you are in.

The final output was variety of dynamic paths and journeys created by the entire MFA Community of 2020.