Photo by BJ Allen

Second year Interdisciplinary Arts & Media student, BJ Allen, has been rocking it at usual, and I’m super excited for the opening of her solo show on April 2nd, titled Edgewater Oriented Ontology at C33 gallery. 

Allen’s work is inspired by the grieving process and the refuge found in collecting and reinterpreting the environment around her: the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago. The solo exhibition consists of two site-specific installations and several sculptural artworks that use new technologies to bring to light the rich layers of meaning within any one object. Ambient sound, abstract video, and geometric design combine to portray a unique emotional and philosophical journey grounded in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago. Grief, refuge, nature, physics, and technology flow in and out of each other to form a colorful, meditative whole.

Allen’s exhibition proposal was chosen by DEPS (the Department of Exhibitions and Performance Spaces) through a competitive process open to all Columbia students, and she continues to work closely with DEPS throughout the exhibition’s planning and design process. Her work for this exhibition is supported by the Albert P. Weisman award, a merit-based project grant for Columbia students. The exhibition’s opening reception is on April 2nd from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Allen’s work will be on display through April 17th. If you’re in the city of Chicago be sure to check out this great show.

For more information on some of the other fantastic exhibition spaces that are available to Columbia students check out the DEPS website here.

Also be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter (@ArtsMediaMFA) to hear about more awesome student work.