The current exhibition at Pratt Manhattan Gallery, There is a certain tilt of the lightspotlights a group of 14 talented and diverse Pratt Institute graduates, all of whom earned an MFA between 2018 and 2022. The show’s title – borrowed from Emily Dickinson’s poem “There’s a Certain tilting light” – sets the tone for an exploration of the meaning of light and served as a rubric for curator Seph Rodney while reflecting on the work of 142 MFA graduates.
Although Rodney acknowledges that interpretations of Dickinson’s poem are often grounded in abstract notions of desperation or religious sentiment, the works in this exhibition challenge these interpretations, aiming to showcase a sense of dynamic inquiry and insight. By examining the poetic use of light in painting, photography and multimedia works, viewers are encouraged to appreciate the meaning and significance of light and to allow luminescence into their lives.
Many of the works in the exhibition are monochrome, amplifying the quiet assertiveness of the poem. They aim to evoke a range of emotions, such as sadness, longing and even discouragement, and also reveal their creators’ deep sensitivity to the world. Artists like Erik Wangsvick, Weijia Lizzy Li, Naomi Frank and Samantha Morris pay close attention to the interaction, fantasy and weight of light, capturing its essence in their respective mediums.
In a curatorial statement, Rodney acknowledges the troubled state of the nation characterized by superficial popular culture, short-sighted politics and frequent acts of violence.
Despite these limitations, there are aspects of our culture from which I can draw meaning and fulfillment. Despite what Dickinson describes as an “imperial affliction / Air Envoy”, we find daily sources of light and life, reasons to get up and write a poem, an art exhibition, a good nourishing meal – all the means to avoid death. , both spiritual and physical.
Seph Rodney, Curator of There is a certain tilt of the light
There is a certain tilt of the light runs until September 6 at Manhattan Pratt Gallery At New York.
For more information, visit pratt.edu.
