MFA Exhibits at the CAC

All through March, the CAC hosts thesis work by new MFAs from University of Cincinnati and Miami University. Installations by James McKenna and Baylee Schmitt, body art by Glover Marfo, paintings by Harris Martinson, and video and photography by An Wang. McKenna’s Imposing installation of rusted steel and naturally dyed canvas raises questions about mortality and purpose. Marfo’s striking woven and open metalwork breast plates, of metal and natural fibers, memorialize women’s struggles in Ghana, his native country. Schmitt surrounds us with a suspended kitchen composed entirely of flat crocheted appliances and cabinets, layering concepts of “women’s work. ”Martinson’s paintings range from playful to somber, and illustrate his interest in relationships between light and presence. Wang’s mesmerizing video reveals and conceals an enigmatic figure behind a curtain of smoke, recalling memories of his father. The exhibit is a thought-provoking walk through Cincinnati’s newest art, and a suggestion of future work by these new artists.