(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)August 27, 2008

(MAHWAH) – A group show, METAL: The Exhibition, will be presented in the Kresge and Pascal Galleries on the campus of Ramapo College of New Jersey Wednesday, September 17 through Friday, October 17.  In addition to the gallery presentations, two sculptures will be on display on the grounds of the campus.

An opening reception and artists’ talks will be given from 5 to 7 p.m. on September 17.  In conjunction with the exhibit, there will be a molten iron performance and heavy metal music concert Saturday, October 18, from 2 to 9 p.m. at The Bandshell, located adjacent to the main entrance.

The exhibition will be curated by Robert Modafferi ’01, a Ramapo College alumnus and chief art handler/registrar at the college.  This will be his first major exhibition project at Ramapo.  Modafferi, of Sloatsburg, NY, has participated in iron pours on campus, in Birmingham, AL, Buffalo, NY and elsewhere.  He also co-curated Sited Outside with Gallery Director Sydney Jenkins in 2003 at Ramapo College and co-curated Rage Against the Machine with Jacquelyn Skrzynski in 2006 at Spire Studios in Beacon, NY.

The exhibit will showcase iconic artists working in metal media, including, among others:  Louise Bourgeois, who currently has a one-person show at the Guggenheim; Lynda Benglis, a renowned feminist known for her poured and knotted pieces; and Mel Edwards, regarded as an important 20th Century African-American artist who has participated in iron pours at Ramapo College.

“There are many avenues being explored in this exhibition, but they all start or end with METAL,” said Modafferi.  “This includes the original idea for the exhibition, which came from my fascination and love of iron and my curiosity in the heavy metal music culture.”

A multi-disciplinary endeavor, METAL:  The Exhibition will include cast, fabricated and free-formed metal sculptures and molten iron drawings by Michael Dominick. Accompanying the metal sculptures will be photo installations, paintings, prints, wood cut prints and other sculptures depicting heavy metal imagery and music.  The exhibit also features documentary photos of the infamous metal graffiti street artist REVS by Katherine Lorimer.  Video projects by Jill Wiggins and another by Ben Kinsley and Jon Rubin will be shown.  There will also be works by alumnus Greg De Laura from the Ramapo College collection and Jay Wholley, a professor of sculpture at the college.

Works by Bill Abdale, Matt Crane, Nathon Diana, Gavin Kenyon, Tom Kotik, Lori Merhige, Dennis McNett, Bill McRight, Carley Jean Parrish, Ed Parrish Jr., Kenneth Patrick Payne, Heather Powell, Derek Riggs, Frank Russo, Martina Secondo Russo, Nader Sadek, Jonathan Schipper, Zac Shavrick, Lauren Utter, Gregory Van Maanen and Michael D. Walsh will also be featured.

“The collaborative approach to art-making, exemplified by the group iron pour process and the making of music, aligns with artistic practices that are increasingly receiving serious attention in important international biennials,” said Jenkins, gallery director.

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and a Platinum Series grant from Ramapo College.

The Kresge and Pascal Galleries are located in the Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts at Ramapo College.  Hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, 1 to 7 p.m.  For more information, call (201) 684-7147.

Press inquiries about the exhibit may be directed to Anna Farneski, assistant vice president of Marketing and Communications, (201) 684-6844 or cell, (201) 697-3022.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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