Page 9 - UDC LEGACY Winter 2015

Eager Crowd Applauds

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Alumni’s Work
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WA
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HOT
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BY TIFFANY BRIDGETT AND OSIRIS REBOLLO

W

hen alumnus Alanzo Ro- W
bles-Gordon unveiled the LE
EY
work for his September art DR
AU
show entitled “Tesserae” at BY
the University of the District OTO
PHAS
of Columbia (UDC), a room illed with fam- AG
N B
ily, friends, faculty members, and students WA
eager to witness his works applauded him. Y I
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Tesserae is a word that means a small stone, HOT
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or particle of glass. With over 30 art pieces
on view, excitement illed the room as people

witnessed irst-hand the amazing portfolio of

ripped pieces of paper transformed into art
masterpieces.

Robles- Gordon said the process of creating

the art on view began years before the show.
“Tesserae was the continuation of four pieces

(the four long works on wood) I created in

late 2010. At the time I'd been developing an
interest in fashion and wanted to apply the

technique I was becoming comfortable in

with dress forms. In July 2015 Daniel Venne me. I admire these artists because of their
approached me about possibly having a solo passion, depth of skill and their willingness

show at UDC. I agreed and eventually decided to share themselves with the world at large.”

to feature my 'fashionistas,' as I call them. Robles- Gordon’s stepfather, Taiwo Iman,
I use magazine paper as my pigment. For recognizes the lengths his son undergoes in

source material I used magazines as well as creating his masterpieces. “It takes a lot of TOP: Faculty, students, and staff enjoy the art at

fashion blogs looking for basic silhouettes. I patience, I sat with him during one of his UDC’s Gallery 42. At left: CAS Dean Dr. April Massey.
went about crafting speciic feelings for each sessions, creating these art pieces take hours.”
ABOVE: Installation of alumnus Alanzo Robles-
piece, exposed rigidity, whimsy, making sure Art is very important to Robles- Gordon, Gordon’s one-man show “Tesserae: Form & Function.”

each girl's pose matched her intent."
a vital part of his life. “Art is my stabilizer, my LEFT: Mixed-media artist, Alanzo Robles-Gordon, ‘11
Robles- Gordon takes his inspiration from saving grace. Through art I communicate with
(BFA). “Art is my stabilizer, my saving grace. Through
a host of sources. “My inluences range from myself, and the world while documenting my art I communicate with myself and the world, while

fashion, 90's ilm and television, literature, life. My self-expression takes the form of poetry, documenting my life.”
daydreams, to deconstructions of intense paper collage, and mixed-media sculpture.”

emotion. I love stumbling on old art magazines Professor Daniel Venne, co-coordinator of work is inspired, meticulously crafted, and

and National Geographics. Artists such as the art program, praised his former student’s a joy to behold. His exquisite sense of color
Salvador Dali, Geofrey Holder, Frida Kahlu eforts. “We are very proud to host this exhibi- dazzles the eye and his innovative sense of

and Maynard James Keenan have inluenced
tion by alumnus Alanzo Robles- Gordon. The
design speaks for itself."

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