The Art Gallery at Eastern Connecticut State University recently held a reception for its latest exhibition, "Different Things and in Different Amounts." Held Sept. 18, the event featured discussions with some of the contributing artists, who spoke about their creative processes and the themes behind their work. 

According to curator, Douglas Degges, the eclectic collection is intended to emphasize the joy of creating art and a deep connection with the world both inside and outside the studio.

“All of the artists included in the exhibition are present for the materials and processes they use, letting the work unfold and change as it's being made,” said Degges. “The images and objects that are produced have a quality of care and presence that I think make the show what it is: an offering of artworks that are about openness and taking pleasure in the material world.” 

The exhibition's other featured artists include Sangram Majumdar, Deborah Dancy, Mariah Dekkenga, Hong Hong, Erin Koch Smith, Sangram Majumdar, Daniel Graham Loxton, and Julie Torres. 

Smith described her approach to her work as a process of gradual discovery and acceptance of the result. “Douglas had asked me some questions about materials settling into the image, and often it feels like I’m trying to escape materials sometimes," said Smith.  

“They might just end up being there, like I’m looking at clouds and discovering a monster and trying to get rid of it,” Smith continued. “Every decision sets it into stone, and I’m forced to deal with what can’t be removed.” 

Loxton offered a succinct perspective on his pieces’ physical roles within the overall layout of the exhibition, having contributed smaller-scale works. “I am honored to be the comma between the other artists’ paintings,” said Loxton. “My paintings are a conceptual element that go beyond the square as it enters into the world.”

Art Gallery Director Julia Wintner noted the retrospective themes represented in the exhibition, saying that the artists channeled the memories of their personal lives and struggles into their work. 

“The artists included in ‘Different Things and in Different Amounts’ convey difficult daily realities amidst a wealth of pictorial splendor and formal fluency,” she said. “These include memories stained by racial injustice, concerns about nature in crisis, resistance to dehumanizing technology and the saturation of social media, combined here to provoke reflection and inspire engagement while testifying to the enduring political power of abstract art.”