HCC art teacher and independent artist Darla Barolini’s new art exhibit, The Classroom, explores themes of connection, community, and teamwork, while also examining apathy and isolation. The artwork is on display at the Spring Branch Art Gallery and will run from August 18 to October 24. An artist’s reception will be held on Tuesday, September 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Drawing from an admiration for comic books and contemporary figurative artists like Jenny Saville, Lucian Freud, and Alice Neel, Darla Barolini’s The Classroom seeks to give a voice to modern youth and reflect the disengagement that characterizes today’s education.
The artist’s use of comic book visual elements—such as one-point perspective, paneling, and slightly exaggerated student heads—creates an unsettling balance between realism and fantasy.
Barolini’s artwork encourages us to form a personal connection with the students, many of whom have eyes that lack wonder and soul. They occupy most of the foreground, overtaking the space with their apathetic expressions.
One must wonder whether the disengagement depicted in much of Barolini’s work here results from modern society’s susceptibility to distraction by technology and social media. If that’s the case, The Classroom truly is both an homage and a warning for anyone who believes education still should be prevalent in the lives of American youth.
