Visiting artist and professor Judy Pfaff’s students have created sets of installations on campus ranging from a mirrored room with a disco ball to a room with miniature G.I. Joes descending from helicopters.
Pfaff has been the eminent artist-in-residence at the University of Wyoming since January and has been teaching undergraduate art students since she arrived. She gave some insight into what inspires her art Monday night at the University of Wyoming Art Museum.
“I love color. No one here uses color. I have no idea why not. In India, I discovered a world of pink and purple. I had not known that; that was never in my vocabulary,” Pfaff said. “I think pinks and purples are fragrant and send messages about growing things and expanding things.”
Pfaff has had installations in several locations including “Buckets of Rain” at the Ameringer Yohe Fine Art in New York City, “Coroa de Espinhos” at the Bienal Pavillion in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and “cirque, CIRQUE” at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
She also is an art professor and co-chair of the Art Department at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York and has been a visiting artist at the University of Montana, Ohio State University and the University of Maryland, among others.
As part of her stay in Wyoming, she hosted a question and answer session with students and faculty who were interested in learning about how she goes about creating her installations and art pieces.
“I need sunshine. I need that view out and I need that escape. I’m not very good about concentration and looking at something and really tearing it apart,” Pfaff said. “Seeing someone honing in on a project really freaks me out.”
Pfaff also was asked why she chose to work with undergraduate students as opposed to graduate students.
“It wasn’t necessarily a choice, but you’re very fresh,” Pfaff said in regards to undergraduates. “With graduate students you have very warm, sophisticated, more in-depth conversations, but nothing changes.”
When asked if she thinks teaching influences the way a student makes art, Pfaff said she did not have a solid answer.
“I don’t know. I think you keep your mind open. Right now, I know if I go into a studio you can show me anything and if I like it and get it then I imagine it would get into me the same way teaching does,” Pfaff said.
During her visit, Pfaff has taught two classes in the art department. The installations and exhibitions will be on display until May 11 when Pfaff will conclude her four-month residency.
