On April 21, the reception to “Faces and Spaces” invited Savannah locals and SCAD students alike to view the work of two SCAD Photography Seniors (and soon to be graduates) Laura Beckerdite and Rob Crossno.
The exhibition, held in Oglethorpe Gallery, proudly displayed still-lifes by Crossno and a variety of portraits by Beckerdite. The evening had the gallery filled with laughter and discussions while the artists were surrounded by friends and family to celebrate their accomplishments. “Rob and I have been pretty good friends for a few years now. Although [our work is] so different, it all works out.”
Beckerdite’s “faces” displayed over 15 portraits in a variety of styles. She describes her collection as “a summary of [her] 4 years at SCAD,” while showcasing the collaborative opportunities the university provides. “It’s work I’ve done for advertising majors, work I’ve done for Fashion Marketing majors and for myself.”
Photo credit: Laura Beckerdite
Bekerdite’s portraits are minimalistic, however each composition features a bright pop of color and a balance between soft and hard lighting. Whether she’s working in-studio or on location, she admits to bringing her own lights in order to manipulate the scene to her liking.
In addition to her expertise in lighting, Beckerdite also shot through different materials to produce a variety of effects such as blurring an image or distorting it, in the case of her series called “Tyler,” a collaborative project focused on a David Bowie aesthetic.
The “spaces” featured in the gallery were created by Rob Crossno. His series of photographs depicts small rooms that he described as “a visual representation of [his] subconscious.”
Each monochromatic photo reveals a square filled with a variety of specific objects, most found objects Crossno collected from antique stores and yard sales.
Robs preferred piece in the collection “The Trophy Room” deals with the contrast between life and death. The room, which is covered in a scarlet red wallpaper depicts a golden turkey sitting adjacent to a plant. Above the plant hangs a pair of antlers.
Photo credit: Rob Crossno
“A lot of my work revolves around this idea of life and death,” He says when discussing the work. Crossno explained how the plant and turkey will grow and depict life, while the antlers depict death. Crossno also incorporated an upside down cross into the piece, which he says is placed to bring about the idea “of a lack of religion, or a struggle with it.”
The vibrant works of Beckerdite and Crossno in “Faces and Spaces” uniquely played off one another and served as a great testament to both the talent and dedication of students at SCAD.
“SCAD has been the absolute best decision I could’ve made,” Beckerdite said, “My professors and peers have helped shaped my work and career to where it is today. I don’t know where I’ll be a few years down the road, but I know SCAD has prepared me for anything.”
Colin is a Game Design major from Raleigh, North Carolina. He is responsible for finding interesting and relevant stories related to news, student activities and local events. When not working on articles for District, he enjoys catching up on the latest DC comics, listening to music, and designing game environments.
