April 18, 2024
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) debuts its 2024 senior art project featuring work by students Skylah Zayas, Hailey Rolon, and Matt Flanagan. “Synthesis: Sluts, Beasts, and Synths”’ is a confrontational inquiry about love, imaginative beasts, and post-punk/industrial music.
The exhibition is on view through May 11 at Gallery 51 at 51 Main St., in North Adams.
Zayas’ project on love/sex utilizes reclaimed wooden pallets reworked into an uncomfortable bed. Hand-crafted fabric upholstery and bedding features quotes harvested from participants’ experiences in relationships.
“This sculpture/installation reflects emotion and experiences of modern hook-up culture from not only myself, but my peers,” Zayas said. “My artwork strongly utilizes the opinions and voices in my surrounding community.”
Rolon manifests dream-like beasts that are life-sized, made from paper mâché and clay, as well as drawings. She describes her work “as an extension of myself. My art reflects the physicality of this lived experience. Most artworks become self-portraits whether I want them to be or not.”
Flanagan synthesizes his interpretations of post-punk and industrial music with art historical inquiry. His work bridges the gap between music and art through experimental compositions using metal scraps and other found materials.
“We are all combining our external influences with our own ideas, in uncomfortable or shocking ways,” he said. “The shock factor in my project is through my materials - rusty, sharp, and bizarre metal scraps.”
The students are guided by a team of MCLA art professors as well as staff at MCLA’s Gallery 51 and outside guest artists to create work for their exhibition. The students build professional statements and resumes, and other documents necessary to enter the art world. In addition to this exhibit, students will prepare an artist talk to deliver at MCLA’s Undergraduate Research Conference.
For more information about “Synthesis: Sluts, Beasts, and Synths” call (413) 662-5324,
or go to
www.mcla.edu/Gallery51. For more information, go to www.mcla.edu/bcrc.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA
is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully
empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 129-year commitment
to public education, we have fortified our commitment to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News’ list of Top Ten Public Colleges for nine consecutive
years, ranking No. 7 for Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for a third year. The
College's continued commitment to affordable education and economic prosperity is
reflected in its inclusion on U.S. News' list of National Liberal Arts Colleges for
Social Mobility since the organization adopted this ranking in 2019; MCLA is No. 1
in the state, No. 2 in the country, and No. 22 for National Liberal Arts Colleges.
These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell
Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
