Charles Purvis and Joan Ffolliott discuss their exhibition at Mount Saint Mary College’s CMA Gallery, “Mandorla in Pieces.” The gallery will remain open to the public through Sunday, May 26.
Local artists Joan Ffolliott and Charles Purvis discussed the inspirations and motivations behind their mixed media exhibition, “Mandorla in Pieces,” on Tuesday, April 23 at the CMA Gallery on the Mount Saint Mary College campus.
The CMA gallery is located on the first floor of Aquinas Hall, 330 Powell Ave., Newburgh, N.Y. It’s free and open to the public Monday through Friday during normal business hours, or by appointment, through Sunday, May 26. Email cma-gallery@msmc.edu for more information.
“Mandorla in Pieces” incorporates the unique skills, disciplines, and experiences of the artists and their selected mediums, with impressive results. They approach their work from different disciplines: Ffolliott is a sculptor, master printmaker, and educator. Purvis is a photographer working primarily with analog film and collage.
In this exhibit, they meet in the middle with a shared passion for their processes. They range from working side-by-side with identical photographic images to handing over partially completed works for the other to bring to life.
This form of teamwork and trust has resulted in exciting works and unforeseen outcomes that have greatly expanded the artists’ individual and collective artistic expressions, use of materials, and possibilities, they noted.
The CMA gallery was created in 2019 as a professional artist space to exhibit media picked by Mount faculty from among the rising population of artists who live and work in Newburgh, Beacon, and throughout the Hudson Valley.
The Mount’s CADM programs encompass the study of digital media production, graphic design, and journalism. CADM also offers minors in each of these disciplines, as well as in art and film studies. CADM programs prepare students for both traditional and emerging professions.