Woods Hall Exhibit - Hillary Moore

The SynArts gallery at Woods Hall showcases a variety of art forms, including paintings, photographs, and sculptures. There were several works that stood out to me, but two in particular: “Egg Patrol”, and oil painting, and “Rufus Davis”, a black and white photograph. While “Egg Patrol” and “Rufus Davis” are presented in different mediums, the works show a similar emphasis on human emotion and feeling.

“Egg Patrol”, a painting by Chris Davenport, is a dizzying splash of bright, bold colors that seem to scream from the canvas. A policeman crowds the left side of the scene, crimson encroaching the back of his emerald green uniform and his rigid policeman’s hat. On the arm of his coat is a patch reading “Egg Patrol” backwards. In the foreground to his right is an older woman in pointed black glasses and a red jacket. A yellow and green striped shirt peeks out, matching the flowers on her red, brimless hat. Under the foreboding sky behind them is a nest built of brown twigs. An older man in a teal coat stands with a boy on his shoulders. In the man’s worried hands is a small, red flag in the shape of a triangle. The boy looks wistfully away, his pained expression mirroring that of the old man’s. Next to them in the nest is a woman in all yellow. Her anguished face is framed by short brown hair and she holds a small child in her arms. The dark, cloudy sky is interrupted by streaks of lightning that gather towards the center of the scene.

Jonathan Purvis’ black and white photograph “Rufus Davis” is a portrait of an elderly black World War Two veteran. Pictured from the shoulders up, Rufus is at ease against the simple white backdrop. A black hat sits atop his head with the words “World War II” arching across a striped bar and “Veteran” written underneath. Rufus’ wise eyes look intently at the lens for under white, bushy eyebrows. Lines draw from his eyes to his thinning, white-tinged mustache and goatee. At the bottom of the photograph is the white starched collar of Rufus’ shirt and his khaki coat.

Both “Egg Patrol” and “Rufus Davis” strive to show a human element, focusing on the emotions of the subjects. “Egg Patrol” depicts a myriad of feelings. The policeman gives a devilish grin to the older woman as she plucks a glowing, bluish egg from the nest. His toothy smile gives the policeman a sinister air, and the woman seems oblivious to the plight of those in the nest as she makes her selection. The nest dwellers are clearly distressed at their situation. The adults look troubled and sad, giving the impression that they are losing something important; that they may be heartbroken over the loss. In their care are two children whose faces mirror those in war-torn countries. The shared look of fear in the kids’ eyes is as evident as that in the anxious adults.

“Rufus Davis” focuses on one man whose feelings are not as obvious at first glance. Rufus stares plainly at the camera, his mouth forming neither a smile nor a frown. However, something in Rufus’ expression is attention grabbing. Under the black ball cap is the face of a man who has witnessed many things. He has seen depression and war, progress and boom. I find myself wondering what is must have been like to see the world through those eyes. Rufus’ hat indicates that he has bravely served his country, but the lines of time on his face suggest his experiences reach far beyond that. Rufus’ expression seems to tell me that he has an unlimited spring of knowledge, just waiting to be tapped.

While both works of art concentrate on emotions, they go about their portrayals in very different ways. “Egg Patrol” is loud and colorful. The subjects of the painting express their feelings without restraint. Chris Davenport, the artist, lets the viewers know what his subjects are feeling. The menacing black sky corners the people in the nest, and the streaking lightning cuts across the ominous clouds. In contrast, “Rufus Davis” is simple. The subject is pictured from the shoulders up, wearing simple clothes, and is against a plain white backdrop. The focal point of the photograph is Rufus and his expression is not clearly defined.

I was immediately drawn to “Egg Patrol” because of the colors and the vivid images. The hurt expressed by the people in the nest is disturbing and mysterious, and the smirking policeman and woman holding the egg are frustrating. Their disregard for those in the nest evokes a curiosity in me, and I wish I could speak with the artist. Overall, “Egg Patrol” confuses me the more I study it. The policeman’s badge, reading “Egg Patrol”, is on backwards. Is there some sort of symbolism here? To me, this badge is a reflection of the backwards nature of his actions by allowing the woman to take an egg. The presence of the four people in the nest is also puzzling. Whatever the eggs hold is of importance to them, as evidenced by the sadness they are expressing as the woman lifts one from the nest. The message of the artist is not entirely clear to me. I know there is a purpose to the piece, but it seems like such a distant and foreign idea that I don’t grasp what it is.

“Rufus Davis” made me feel patriotic and nostalgic. The man in the photograph wears a “World War II Veteran” hat, showing he has made a sacrifice. Whenever I see veterans in these hats, I feel grateful for what they have given. Rufus’ hat also reminds of my grandfather, a World War II veteran whose planes were shot down twice. He survived 11 days in the Pacific Ocean and was always proud of his service. The photograph takes me back to hearing his war stories and spending holidays at my grandparents’ house. I always enjoyed hearing my grandfather’s tales, and I would love to sit with Rufus and hear his. I think that the artist was trying to show the wisdom of a man who has accomplished many things in his life and whose experiences are worth hearing.

“Egg Patrol” was a darker piece than “Rufus Davis”, but it was able to send across a clear picture of the subject’s emotions. “Rufus Davis” leaves the viewers to make their own decisions about his feelings. However, both pieces emphasized their subjects and made me curious to discover more about the inspiration and stories behind them. To sit down with the artists and discuss their motives would be a dream. The exhibit was well worth a trek through the rain to Woods Hall, and it’s really a shame that the pieces have already come down.