June First Thursday at Cornerstone

Photo provided.

Muncie, IN—Join Cornerstone Center for Arts for First Thursday on June 2, 2016 for an opening reception and art show featuring the art of Sarah Shaffer. The show titled “Life in Plastic” explores society’s monumental impact through the form of our tiniest role models. Beyond objectification and the weight of the world’s expectations, creating this body of work was a very personal journey for Sarah. She created these paintings using one of her daughter’s dolls as a model with the color palette of her childhood memory. These pieces embody her own path to define her self-image and the desire to not pass along physical insecurities to future generations.

Each piece is a depiction of a doll, focusing on a portion of the body and recreated on a large scale. This collection of acrylic paintings portrays the objectification and unrealistic expectations placed upon women. We perpetuate these damaging standards in our interactions with others and within ourselves. The titles are inspired by comments made to or about women in judgement of their appearance, their choices, and their actions.

The opening reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cornerstone Art Gallery on the second floor of Cornerstone Center for the Arts. The show will be on display and open to the public throughout the month of June.

Photo provided.

Photo provided.

Sarah, a visual arts instructor at Cornerstone as well as a commissioned artist, is a native of Indiana, grew up in Fort Wayne with a love of art from an early age. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University’s Art Department, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in metalsmithing earned in 2007. Her senior show titled “Playtime’s Over,” explored women’s issues by combining Barbie dolls with precious metal to create conceptual jewelry.

Nearly 10 years after Sarah’s senior project, she has revisited Barbie and some of the corresponding themes of objectification and unrealistic expectations through the form of painting rather than jewelry. In the near decade that has passed, Sarah has become a mother and wishes to confront these themes for the betterment of the next generation.

For more information about the show call Cornerstone’s Department of Education & Communication at 765-281-9503, ext. 23.