During a session held in his exhibit at the Edwin W. Zoller Gallery Friday, artist and filmmaker Brent Green said “art about art” is not interesting.
In the gallery, three screens, ordered one in front of the other, ran down the center of the room, and a different film was projected onto each screen.
Green stood in front of the exhibit discussing and explaining with students the elements of his three films on display: “To Many Men Strange Fates Are Given,” “Carlin” and “Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then.”
Green’s exhibit will be on display until Friday in the Zoller Gallery in the Visual Arts Building.
While answering student questions, “Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then” silently played on the screen behind him. Afterward, Green turned the sound on and let 10 minutes of the feature-length film play.
Dalton Kendrick said what he liked most about Green’s films was that they were honest.
“I think he’s trying to put out his own personal honesty,” Kendrick (senior-art education) said. “It’s not fronting anything. It explains itself. It’s just him, take it or leave it.”
Taking note that many artists today do not only work with one medium, Green said his artwork includes sculpture, painting, hand-drawn animation and stop-motion film, which were on display in the gallery.
“My work is accessible. You can see that I make it with stuff that I get from my yard,” he said.
His films also contain elements of music and narrative. His short film “Carlin,” which Green said is about his aunt who had diabetes, is an example of his artistic style and his use of music and voice.
Angela Moore said she likes that Green’s exhibit is “raw,” and he let’s himself “flow onto the screen and into his words.”
“You feel him throughout the whole process. It’s like what you want to hear but what no one wants to tell you,” Moore (senior-human development and family studies) said.
Kendrick said he felt like he was sitting down with someone while they were having a moment of weakness.
After the show, students approached Green with comments about his exhibit and how they felt about his films. Some even exchanged emails and links to websites with their own artwork.
“It’s not just about Penn State artists. It’s about how we fit into the art world,” Kendrick said. He said it’s a breath of fresh air to see the school bringing in outside artists.
Although he’s from a small town, Green said he has had his art shown all around the world.
Green tends to show his work at universities because “it’s important for students to see things that are handmade and not made with money.”
