Fredonia students enrolled in Peter Tucker’s Installation Art class will have their art displayed at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Fredonia on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. The temporary exhibition titled “Six Feet Above” will include site-specific sculptures, performative and interactive works of art. All campus and community members are welcome to attend the free outdoor art exhibit.
Every fall, Visual Arts and New Media students participate and vote on one specific location for their off-campus art installation project. Installation Art is defined as a way of making art that often responds to the space where the work is exhibited.
Last year, students chose to use Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk for their off-campus location. This fall, the students voted and chose to use Forest Hill Cemetery, which was previously used in 2012 for the class exhibit.
“A cemetery is a powerfully loaded space to create artwork in. It is also an interesting challenge because Forest Hill is an active cemetery. The challenge for students is to create work that is respectful of the space,” stated Assistant Professor Peter Tucker. He also noted his appreciation of the town of Pomfret for allowing the installation.
Mackenzie Sheldon, one of the student artists, has a very personal connection to Forest Hill Cemetery. Her grandmother was buried there and she is creating a piece in her grandmother’s honor. Sheldon’s artwork is based off of individual research of her grandmother’s life.
Student artwork will be displayed throughout the cemetery property. Upon arrival, visitors will receive a map of the cemetery detailing where each student piece is located.
Forest Hill Cemetery is located at 55 Lambert Ave. The rain date is set for the following day, Sunday, Oct. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m.
For more information about “Six Feet Above,” please contact Peter Tucker by email at peter.tucker@fredonia.edu or by phone at 716-536-0073.
