NOVA/Mason Innovation Exhibition Reception 2022

INNOVATION: 2022 NOVA/MASON FOUNDATIONS JURIED EXHIBITION

Juried by Babette Pendleton – Exhibition & Programming Associate, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, The George Washington University

To see all of the art from the exhibition, visit:

masonexhibitions.org/exhibitions/innovation

This years NOVA/MASON show was a huge success!  Our collective arts foundations  students, who  are Foundations level students (Freshmen or Sophomore) currently enrolled NOVA and Mason students. showed us how exceptionally talented they are!

George Mason Sculpture teacher, Brian Davis takes a picture of the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

This exhibition explores the dual challenges faced by Foundation Level art students: learning about a new medium and honing their craft within the structure of the class assignment. Innovation celebrates those works that expand on, push the boundaries of, and go beyond those in class assignments. Whether in craft, design, or concept, developing technical skills and an artistic voice is not an easy task. Innovation is an exhibition dedicated to the students working on building their skills and finding new approaches. All works exhibiting personal growth or an innovated approach to classroom work will be considered

The Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

There are a variety of positive aspects to bringing our students together in one exhibition.  NOVA students get to see the level of art by their student  colleagues at Mason and learn about the arts program from them and their professors as well.   Often Mason students are prior NOVA students and having alumni return to see their friends is rewarding for all!

Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Each year the exhibition toggles between NOVA and George Mason.  This coming year everyone working to have the exhibition in a professional arts venue to help provide an extraordinary learning experience for how galleries work and provide a broader community experience and  access to seeing everyone’s art!

This year’s Juror is Babette Pendleton, the current exhibition and programming curator at George Washington’s Corcoran School of Art & Design in DC who also teaches within the Curatorial Practice program at MICA.  She holds a BFA in Dance & Choreography from Cornish College of the Arts, and an MFA in Curatorial Practice from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) with a minor in Critical Theory.

Experimentation, intentionality, and collaboration are central aspects of Babette Pendleton’s multidisciplinary work as an artist, curator-producer, and researcher. Her national and international curatorial work manifests in forms of collective and collaborative organizing, project management, visionary and strategic consulting, and exhibition/performance producing. Babette is the director of Yellow Fish, a durational performance art festival which aims to bring awareness to the significance and study of time through cultural practices and artistic mediums, while facilitating community involvement in historical and contemporary thought surrounding Durational Performance. Notable past work includes, director and founder of the Pendleton House—a twenty-five person interdisciplinary art collective; director of the experimental gallery space, New Tomorrow; and producer and project Manager for Sarah Cameron Sunde’s global series, A Durational Performance with the Sea. She most recently worked as a consultant with Robert W. Deutsch Foundation in Baltimore, MD and Coffey Street in Brooklyn, NY.  Her current research focuses on reconfiguring contractual agreements inside collecting and commissioning initiatives with specific emphasis on putting care practice and performance methodologies at the forefront of contract law. Babette

The works she chose are inspirational and often tell a personal story or stories of others or experience itself.

Proud family taking photographs during the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

This year’s show is headed by Jessica Gardener and Brian Davis.  Jessica head’s our NOVA Alexandria Ceramic’s and 3-D Arts program and Brian, teaches New Media and Sculpture at George Washington University and George Mason University.

Jessica Gardner speaks to exhibition attendees at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.
George Mason professor Brian Davis, Juror Babette Pendleton and our NOVA Alexandria Provost Dr. Annette Haggray, at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

The reception was offered time for students and families to dive deeply into our student’s intentioned-artwork.

Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

School shows are often the first experience our young students have with exhibiting to the public.

Art admirers at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

The rewards are immediate, as art-goers have a huge appreciation for technique and process.

The Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

It’s also a wonderful moment for our artists to explain their work to others.

The Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.
The Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.
Jessica Gardner speaking with reception attendees at The Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Before long it was time for Jessica to gather everyone together to begin the awards ceremony.  First, our Provost, Dr. Annette Haggray was kind enough to give a wonderfully inspiring thank you to all of the students, for their creativity, confidence and  talents.

Dr. Annette Haggray speaks to students at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Babette spoke about all of the works and the extra-ordinary creative ways the students went beyond the classroom assignments and used highly innovative creative thought.

First award of the night was our Honorable Mention , which went to MJ Gomez-Salazar!  Congratulations!

Our Third Place Winner, Ian Dermott! Congratulations!

Ian Dermott and Babette Pendleton at at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022 Photo by Britt Conley.

Brian Davis, 3-D professor at George Mason, proudly took pictures of all of the winners!  It’s a rewarding moment!

Brian Davis at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Our Second Place winner went  Faani Tabrizi Nezhaad’s.  She could not be there but her family was!

Babette Pendleton handing out our Second Place Award for Faani Tabrizi Nezhaad’s work at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Our first Place winner’s award went to Pasindu Weeramunda! Congratulations!

Finally, Congratulations to our People’s Choice winner, Ryan Funkhouser!

Babette Pendleton and Ryan Funkhouser at at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Students from all of our arts came in to see the works and learn from them!

Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Dr. Nicole Munday, Associate Dean for the Social Sciences, enjoying Vicente Figueroa’s Artwork.

Dr. Nicole Munday, Associate Dean for the Social Sciences, enjoying Vicente Figueroa’s Artwork at the Innovation reception at the Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley

Vicente Figueroa discussing her artistic Book artwork.

Vicente Figueroa discussing her artwork at The Innovation Reception at NOVA’s Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Jessica takes a picture of Robbyn Smith and her incredible artwork: Barking Mad Blue.

Jessica takes a picture of Robbyn Smith and her incredible artwork: Barking Mad Blue at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

It’s an exciting show and everyone really enjoyed the works and meeting other students!

A wonderful exhibition at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Sofia Vazquez-Espada enjoyed explaining her work : Color is a Concept.

A wonderful exhibition at the Innovation Reception at the NOVA Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.
Color is a concept by Sofia Vazquez-Espada.

Students enjoying Ariana Barbery-Cornejo’s work: Perception Features.

Students enjoying Ariana Barbery-Cornejo’s work: Perception Features at the Innovation Reception at NOVA’s Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Rachel McGrath and Bethany Davis’ photographic images were wonderfully well recieved.

The Innovation Reception at NOVA’s Alexandria Campus, October 27th, 2022. Photo by Britt Conley.

Yesenia Garcia in front of her lovely piece: Izanami.

Yesenia Castaneda Garcia in front of her piece: Izanami.

A special thanks go out to Brian and Babette for ALL their hard work and creativity in making this show happen.

Stacy Slaten, the head of our 2-D  Department proudly enjoying the student work from her and others classes.

To see all of the art from the exhibition, visit:

masonexhibitions.org/exhibitions/innovation

Congratulations to all for being so creative and taking the courageous steps to let your work be seen!