In the first three weeks of the 2025 season, resident artists in the School of Art have been busy in their studios. This weekend, they have come together to hold a short pop-up exhibition for Chautauquans to see all they have created so far.
From 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Grotto gallery and studio space in the Arts Quad, a selection of resident works will be on view.
Pop-up exhibition organizers Eduardo Rodriguez-Jaime, an oil painter, and Brandon Brooks, an architectural designer, said the idea to present residents’ work was born out of a desire to share with Chautauquans what the artists have created during the first half of their six-week program.
“I’ve been here in the studios, and I’ve been seeing a lot of the residents walking through the Quad, peeking in, and they’re kind of nervous to ask or anything,” said Rodriguez-Jaime. “I thought it’d be a really good idea to give the residents a teaser show before the final exhibition that we have here for the residency.”
The exhibition came to fruition organically; Brooks was working in the Grotto, and Rodriguez-Jaime was looking at potential spaces to exhibit work in, and the two used their artistic strengths to bring the exhibition to life.
“It’s all through proximity. That’s the beauty of being here — just throw out suggestions. I was just around, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is possible, this is what I would do. What do you think?’ ” said Brooks, who offered logistical guidance in designing the exhibition.
Both artists said the community is one of the most valuable assets of the residency program so far, and that being in conversation with so many other artists has opened them up to new ideas and techniques.
Working with the guest faculty at the School of Art has also been a valuable part of the program for both artists. Through their classes, the residents are introduced to new techniques, mediums and styles and encouraged to try what interests them and incorporate them into their individual practices in whatever ways they see fit.
“It’s not anything that’s mandatory, it’s not anything that they’re telling you: ‘Hey, you have to do this, this and this,’ but they’re giving you exercises or presenting ideas to you that you can take if you want,” said Rodriguez-Jaime. “If you practice some, you’ll find out on your own what you can get from it, which is very helpful.”
Both artists said that while their practice can be demanding, it is extremely rewarding.
“We work really hard,” said Brooks. “There’s nothing but a lot of effort and love for the work we do.”
The community-oriented nature of the School of Art program has given rise to collaboration and influence among artists, opening doors to new methods of making art. For the artists, this fostering of creativity is instrumental to their success.
“What’s really interesting is that a lot of people come from different backgrounds or they’re really creating different things. That’s something essential that I believe — that everybody makes differently,” Rodriguez-Jaime said. “I think that’s what’s beautiful — that all of these different backgrounds are kind of helping each other rub off on each other. We’re learning new things, not just from the professors, but really just talking to each other.”
