Jan 16, 2018 3 min read

Emily Sciulli, a Pittsburgh-based artist and Washington & Jefferson College graduate, will present “Here and There” in Olin Fine Art Gallery on W&J’s campus Feb. 2 with a reception and artist’s talk from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event is free.

“Here and There” is a mixed media installation based around ideas of the present moment, impermanence and the aspects of daily life that are discarded or overlooked. Combining elements of sculpture, performance and a contemporary approach to printmaking, visitors are invited to interact with the space and leave their own mark in the gallery.

The installation evolves throughout the duration of the exhibition, creating a visual record of the visitors’ physical presence in the space.

According to Sciulli, paper plays an important sculptural role in the show.

“In life, we use paper as the material that makes ‘the important’ visible,” Sciulli explained in a description of the exhibit. “When we read a book, we contemplate the content of the narrative, not the pages that make it visible, or when we give a gift, the gift is valued but the paper used to wrap it is discarded. The ephemeral nature of paper suggests the fleeting quality of the moments that inspire me.”

One piece in the show is an ongoing collection of conceptual prints that are created in the moment of Sciulli preparing her daily cup of coffee.

“I use envelopes delivered to my apartment as the paper for these prints. Each of these envelopes is like a unique artifact from these different moments,” she said. “Making the print brings awareness and importance to what would otherwise be a forgotten moment of everyday life.”

For another piece, Sciulli collected thumb impressions in clay from people in Washington and Pittsburgh. Visitors will be invited to choose and keep one of these ceramic thumbprints.

“This piece builds on my practice that engages in participatory projects. These projects seek to inspire participants to reflect on aspects of their life that may typically go unnoticed,” said Sciulli. “Though this piece, I am curious to see if the simple gesture of putting your thumb where a stranger’s has been can raise empathy and awareness for others.”

The installation is brought together by black paper that covers the floor and collects shoe prints, leaving evidence of where visitors have been. Visitors are invited to walk through a thin layer of chalk and watch as they leave their impressions behind.

With shoe prints increasing and thumb prints disappearing, the visual state of the gallery will shift and change.

The exhibit will be open daily from noon to 7 p.m. through Feb. 25.