New Art Exhibit, Shifting Horizons, Brings a Fresh Perspective to Hudson County Community College

Professor Laurie Riccadonna, the Coordinator of Studio Arts at HCCC and curator of Shifting Horizons, explains that the exhibit “Explores the profound relationship between humanity and nature through the lens of landscape. Landscapes possess the unique ability to inspire and connect us to the natural world. Landscapes are not just representations of what we see, but how we interpret our surroundings through our minds as much as our eyes. In our fast-paced, technologically saturated urban environments, landscapes offer an escape – a portal to a world where time slows down, where we can reconnect with a place, a moment, and ourselves. The works exhibited in Shifting Horizons convey a sense of awe and wonder. The works engage and enrich our connection to the world around us, our place within it, and a call to action to protect our environment.”

While all the art pieces have their own story to tell, several from Nikki Lindt’s Sonic Rhythms series make this call to action in a particularly unique and compelling way. To create these paintings, Lindt traveled to the Swedish Arctic, Canada’s Narrows Bay, and beyond, recording the sonic waves of the thawing caused by global warming and painting while listening to the subsurface soundwaves. The headphones that accompany each piece allow viewers to hear an MP3 recording of these sonic waves for themselves, offering a first-hand perspective on this important environmental issue.

Lindt states, “With a natural world that feels more and more distant as it seems to slip between our fingers, I hope to cultivate feelings of excitement for and closeness to our natural world. It is through these feelings of excitement, hope, and connection that I believe we can better step in the direction of a respectful and healthy relationship within our interwoven communities of humans and non-human beings alike.”  Lindt’s work has been covered by notable media outlets ranging from Forbes and the Financial Times to CBS’s Sunday Morning Magazine.

The exhibit also combines local and global elements in a profound way, with artwork from glazier Jason Minami, who hones his craft of glassblowing in Hawaii and teaches at a non-profit glass studio focused on serving youth through glass arts in Newark, NJ; and mixed media artist Lina Puerta, who was born in New Jersey and raised in Colombia. Puerta’s solo exhibitions at venues include the New York Botanical Gardens and the Sugarhill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling, along with features in Hyperallergic and the New York Times, among other publications.

On September 27, a reception for Shifting Horizons gave HCCC students the unique opportunity to view the pieces in the exhibit, network and socialize with peers, meet the artists, and learn more about their work firsthand in an intimate setting. HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber noted, “The fascinating Shifting Horizons exhibition is another great example of how art is enriching the student experience at HCCC.”

Shifting Horizons was also featured as part of Arts 14C’s Art Crawl Journal Square in September and the prestigious 35^th Annual Jersey City Art and Studio Tour in October.

The exhibition is on display through November 4 at the Benjamin J. Dineen III & Dennis C. Hull Gallery on the 6^th floor of the Gabert Library at 71 Sip Avenue, Jersey City.