Hartwick’s Rozene to Launch Year-Long Ceramic Installation

by Carole Epp | Sep 17, 2012 | Uncategorized

ONEONTA, NY – Stephanie Rozene,
assistant professor of art at Hartwick College, will soon be included
in a community-wide, multi-venue biennial exhibition to be held at the
Everson Museum in Syracuse, NY. The project aims to highlight the rich
talent of artists across Upstate New York, with a special focus on
Central New York and the surrounding counties.

The exhibition, titled: “The Other New York (TONY): 2012” is
scheduled to open on September 22, 2012. Running from September, 2012
through early January, 2013, the exhibit will include a work from Rozene
entitled: 270: The Corrosive Use of Money in Politics. Rozene’s
installation, however, will be on display within the museum for the
entire year, per the request of Museum Director Steven Kern.

This project, comprised of 270 plates mounted on the wall, continues
Rozene’s investigation into tableware and American politics, and in
particular how European tableware was used as currency during the second
half of the 18th century by French Kings and Queens who wished to
demonstrate their wealth and power to other developed nations.

This work builds off of Rozene’s previous installation, The Politics
of Porcelain, (2011) which used porcelain tableware, and a border of
porcelain forms recalling rococo plasterwork to create place settings.
When hung on the wall, they created three vertical tables. This act of
hanging the china elevated its importance and status to that of a
painting. The work sought to begin a conversation about the importance
of china and its ability hold with it immense power.

270: The Corrosive Use of Money in Politics continues the
investigation of French influences on American china and politics. By
taking patterns and forms from two different china services, Rozene
alludes to the two main political parties in the US, their relationship
to money, power, and role in the upcoming presidential election (270
electoral votes are needed to elect a president), the increase of
Congress’ wealth from insider trading deals, and the glaring disparity
between the wealthiest and poorest in our economy. Through symbolism and
history, Rozene raises the question of money’s influence in politics
and how it affects the American people.

This body of work was supported by the Winifred D. Wandersee Scholar
in Residence Award at Hartwick College, The Milne Family Fund and the
Hartwick College Faculty Research Grant program. Assisting Rozene
throughout the course of this project were Hartwick College students Alexandra Forst ‘13, Elliot Henry ‘13 and Samantha McFarland ‘12.

In addition to the display, there will be an alumni reception hosted
by Hartwick at the Everson Museum in Syracuse, NY, on November 20, 2012
beginning at 6:30 p.m. At the reception, Rozene will give a gallery
talk and will speak about her installation.

For more details on “The Other New York (TONY): 2012” and the Everson Museum, visit http://www.everson.org/ exhibitions/details.php?id=600 .

For additional information on the upcoming Alumni Reception at the Museum, contact Director of Alumni Engagement Duncan McDonald at 607-431-4032 or at [email protected].

For additional information on the installation at the Museum, contact Rozene at 607-431-4833 or at [email protected].

ABOUT HARTWICK
Hartwick College is a private liberal arts and
sciences college of 1,500 students, located in Oneonta, NY, in the
northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Hartwick’s expansive
curriculum emphasizes a uniquely experiential approach to the liberal
arts. Through personalized teaching, collaborative research, a unique
January Term, a wide range of internships, and vast study-abroad
opportunities, Hartwick ensures that students are prepared for the world
ahead. A Three Year Bachelor’s Degree Program and strong financial aid
and scholarship offerings keep a Hartwick education affordable.