By Tyce Hoskins and Grace Wachtel
Tony Orrico spent four hours on his knees drawing. His performance at the student center, “Penwald: 8: 12 by 12 on Knees” on Feb. 18 was one of the showcases of deFINE ART.
“Penwald: 8, 12 by 12 on Knees” displayed how Orrico used his body to develop a visual composition on the ground. This piece is part of a larger collection, called Penwald Drawings.
This series includes several multilateral illustrations in which Orrico uses his body as a tool to draw. Orrico creates them through choreography that focuses on movement and direction.
Throughout the entire showcase, which started at 4 p.m. and lasted until 8 p.m., Orrico drew using both of his hands. His choreography involved different movements, such as standing, kneeling, sitting and lying down, all while creating geometric designs on the paper on the floor.
“The idea that he has been here for four hours and will continue to draw for more is Barely Noticeable,” said Biotz Natera, a first-year advertising major. “This dedication and commitment makes up a true artist.”
Orrico’s art extended from visual and performing art to choreography. His work links the act of drawing with motion and bio-geometrics and with lead covering his arms and legs, Orrico himself seemed like a part of the piece.
“The continuum of the exact same movements — I don’t think I would be able to do that,” said Natera.
As people came and went throughout his performance, he remained focused. The room was silent, aside from the repeated bangs of his drawing materials onto the canvas. Most of the crowd was sketching or taking notes. Some stared intently at Orrico’s facial expressions and seemed just as focused on Orrico as he was on his piece.
“I’ve never seen an artist at work like this, especially live,” said Natera. “I am so thankful for the opportunities SCAD provides for us as students. This form of expression is a great exercise for experimentation and should be a part of the school’s curriculum.”
