By Laura Koenig | The Echo
Usually, by the time an exhibition opens, the artist's work is done. But visitors walking through the Metcalf gallery this February may have been surprised to see Taylor University's current artist-in-residence continue to build his exhibition in front of them.
On Feb. 4, graphic designer, artist and writer Ben DuVall began his exhibition titled "The Imperfect." Throughout his month here, he has led workshops and critiqued student work while incorporating the "gallery-as-studio-as-theater" concept. He worked in the gallery daily, leaving the door open for students, faculty, professors and community members to come and see how an artist creates in a studio. They could watch the exhibition unfold from beginning to end.
DuVall's art career began when he was young. As a child, DuVall always loved drawing. His parents and teachers encouraged him to develop that skill, even pushing him toward architecture, so he could continue using his drawing skills.
He continued to develop his artistic skills, earning a degree in graphic design with a minor in political science from California State University, Long Beach in 2013. His original plan was to study graphic design and relate it to music, designing album covers and gig posters.
As he took different kinds of art classes, such as sculpture and video art, he realized that he was interested in a broader field of design.
"I started taking the things that I loved about graphic design, like typography, bold graphics and some tools that I was using like type design or general video and graphics software, and applied those into a more sculptural or installation realm," DuVall said.
His professors pushed him to be more adventurous with his art, combining his interests in these multiple subjects. He is also inspired by artists who create between mediums, such as those who combine imagery with poetry.
DuVall currently uses his education and personal interests as a freelance graphic designer in Brooklyn, New York. He works with art museums, galleries and universities to design exhibitions: choosing the layout of art in a gallery, picking furniture and cases that will display the work and designing the branding for the show.
He has worked with multiple studios, including Bruce Mau Design, 2x4 and, most recently, Project Projects. He has also worked with the Jewish Museum in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago.
DuVall is also an editor for "Bulk," a collaborative poetry and art publication. This publication-released two to three times a year-brings an artist and a writer to work together and create a piece.
"What's more rare is a collaboration between artists and writers and trying to create a synthesis of those things instead of having them on separate pages, but to have one publication that is a total collaboration between those two things is really interesting to me," DuVall said.
This publication reflects on the kinds of pieces DuVall enjoys-working between different forms and combining them in unique ways.
His exhibition, "The Imperfect," reflects this love for working between mediums as he explores different kinds of imperfections in artwork, music, stories, sports, philosophy and theology.
His final display consists of four stations, each exploring a different area he's researched. He made four different collage prints, placing designed and printed carpets in front of each. DuVall encourages students to sit on the carpets, to see the art from a different angle. He also created videos and did a short performance during his reception on Thursday.
While discussing the connection of the different stations, DuVall said, "A lot of the things, when you watch them or read them more, only relate loosely to each other or to the topic, but I like that about it. It took on a life of its own. Each thing took its own direction."
His learning did not stop with the research for the exhibition. DuVall learned a lot about himself and his art during his month at Taylor. He reflected on his dreams for his career while exploring the Upland and Taylor area.
"I feel like any place that I'm in has a big impact on what I'm writing and what I'm making," DuVall said. "That's partially what the performance is about, synthesizing my experience here and things that I've picked up while I've been here and relating them to what I've been making."
"The Imperfect" will be open until Monday, Feb. 29 in Metcalf Gallery.
