What's the Rush exhibition

This is a long overdue blog post.

What's the Rush? Topics on Convenience, a recent exhibition at the Cal State Fullerton Main Art Gallery, featured artists Susan Jane Belton, Derek Buckner, Chris Jordan, Kevin Landers, Henriette Sonne, Maya Sutter, and Chris Wright. Uniting the pieces on display November through December 2009 was the visual commentary they portrayed of life in our fast-paced world. Depictions, paintings, photographs, and sculptures ranging from the things we carry in our pockets, to sculptures of bagged snack chips, to the scrutinizing details of a portrait depicting the two million plastic beverage bottles used in the United States every five minutes confronted viewers with the realities about our culture of excess.

What's the Rush provided a forum for discussions about the current state of today's convenience-focused society and want-it-now attitudes. The exhibition was as much about design as it was about the artist's individual expression. Each piece could be interpreted as a commentary on the design of the things we use and come in contact with daily. Cell phones, designed for the convenience of communicating on the go, are redesigned every year to hold the latest technology and sell more units. Coffee cups are branded by their respective conglomerate corporate chains to keep consumers loyal. Processed potato chips are dressed up in fancy, sliver lining and the brightest colors to appease your appetite. What's the point? The design of all these things influences the consumer habits we see today.

The exhibition was able to provide a snap shot of our current consumer culture. The artists' work on display started discussions about the need to consider the implications of our fast-paced society and its effect on our environment and our bodies.

*Update* Beautiful catalog photographs from contributing catalog designer, Johan Vilchez


What's the Rush? Topics on Convenience
Curated by Elizabeth C. Tallman and Krystal Glasman

November 7, 2009 through December 16, 2009
CSUF Main Art Gallery