It’s ‘Hotter ‘N Hell’ at NSU
National Collegiate Art Exhibition Features Fire and Heat
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Art Demons are turning up the heat this summer with a juried exhibition of pyrotechnical art by collegiate artists from across the United States.
The “Hotter ‘N Hell National Collegiate Art Exhibition” encompasses all art forms that use fire and heat as part of the creative process, for example: ceramics, glass-casting, welded sculpture, poured metals, metalsmithing, jewelry-making, etc.
The exhibition is housed in the Orville Hanchey Gallery on NSU’s Natchitoches campus during the hottest months of the year: July 1, 2021, through August 27, 2021. Visitors are welcome to view the exhibit Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special viewing will be available every Saturday in July from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. giving visitors time to cool off before heading to Destination Downtown and NSU Folklife Concerts in downtown Natchitoches.
A closing reception will be hosted by NSU’s Department of Fine and Graphic Art from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27 in Orville Hanchey Gallery.
2021 “Hotter ‘N Hell” was juried by Christopher Saucedo. Saucedo was born and raised in old pre-hip Brooklyn. He received his BFA from New York’s School of Visual Arts and his MFA from the University of Michigan. After attending the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture he did post-graduate work at the Queens University of Belfast, in Northern Ireland. Saucedo joined the faculty at Adelphi University on Long Island after being at the University of New Orleans for 20 years, where he was professor of sculpture and chairperson of the Fine Arts Department. Over the past 30 years Saucedo has exhibited his artwork in over 100 exhibitions throughout the world and produced several public sculptures throughout the U.S. He divides his time between New Orleans and Rockaway Beach.
The 2021 “Hotter ‘N Hell” exhibition will feature 47 works of art by 22 collegiate artists from 14 states.
Best in Show was awarded to “Death Mask 2021” by Madeline Davis. The work features a facemask made of hammered copper plated in 24k gold. Davis is a student at the Cleveland Art Institute in Ohio. Her major professors are Kathy Buszkiewicz and Matthew Hollern. According to Davis, “Death Mask of 2021” was created in response to the experience of wearing preventative death masks daily over the course of a year. Taking a now modern accessory that holds extreme historical significance and a practice of the past brings this piece into the present.”
Second place went to Danielle Attoe’s “Repose.” Attoe attends the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Attoe’s major professor is Yevgeniya Kaganovich. Attoe explains, “Repose” is one in a series of pendants that focuses on the representation of the fat body. Each piece depicts a figure, rendered in silver wire, interacting with a frame made of patinated brass in an oval shape in reference to the cameo. The act of adorning yourself with a marginalized body also shows support for that body and is a force to normalize it without shame in the world.”
Koi Johnson from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, received the Merit Award for his piece, “Don’t Overthink It.” Johnson’s major professor is Eden Collins. Johnson states, “This chair is completely made of crayons, that were put together using heat from a soldering iron. The point of this chair is to not overthink. It represents the battle that one faces when they fall under the curse of overthinking.”
NSU Art Demons look forward to having many visitors view this great exhibition of pyrotechnical art during summer months that are “Hotter ‘n Hell.”
Danielle Attoe’s “Repose.” won second place.
Koi Johnson received the Merit Award for his piece, “Don’t Overthink It.”
