Welcome…to our virtual Eastland Park Hotel gallery!

     "Portland, the host of the 2011 Northeast Regional Honors Conference, encourages us to celebrate and explore concepts of resilience, redevelopment and renewal through scientific investigation, literary & cultural analysis, models of business innovation, and artistic expression." 

     This inaugural NRHC student art exhibition is one of the many conference opportunities for our community to consider and discuss resilience, redevelopment and renewal. The twelve artists and designers included in the exhibition were selected from 22 student submissions, representing sixteen NRHC colleges and universities.

     Please join us on April 1 from 5-7pm to meet the artists and discuss their works. The Eastland Gallery located in the Eastland Hotel, http://www.eastlandparkhotel.com. 

     To acquire more information about Portland's First Friday events go to http://www.firstfridayartwalk.com.

Karlee Church. The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Marine Science (marine biology concentration) & Visual Art (painting concentration) majors.

"Scallop" – 14" x 18", oil

 "Moon Snail"  14" x 18", oil

"Whelk" 14" x 18", oil

Artists Statement: This is a series of three paintings, each a loose visual representation of a different type of shell.  These are meant to highlight the beauty of the natural world.

As a double major in both a science and an art, I am frequently asked the question of how I can enjoy two such different disciplines. I find the answer to be a very simple one; both science and art are, at least for me, ways to learn more about the world and more about myself as well. I feel my artwork largely reflects that idea; it incorporates many aspects of nature and the natural world. I feel that, as modern artists, sometimes we take for granted all of the natural beauty all around us, and focus solely on culture. We need to remember that the beauty of the natural world can be, and needs to be, part of our culture, not separate from it.

Cara Constantino. New Jersey Institute of Technology. College of Architecture and Design. B.S. Architecture major.

Porta Camollia Analytique watercolor

     An analytique is a graphic composition of the architectural drawings required to fully represent a building, structure or space. To best represent Porta Camollia, the gate’s celebrated elevations become the centerpiece of this analytique. 
     The elevations emphasize the detail of both facades while also defining the gate's sectional relationship to the city. A contextual plan, which relates the gates position in the city makes up the top half of the composition while a zoomed-in, detailed plan occupies the lower portion. 
     Several critical details are also included to better understand the scale and character of this magnificent medieval porta. The I.H.S. Christian emblem, which appears in the upper right of the analytique is an acronym of the Latin term Iesus Hominum Salvator. Translated, this means Jesus Savior of Man. This was a connecting element between the two very different facades of Porta Camollia as it appeared on both sides of the gate. In the lower left corner is one of the passageways with the number and size of stones accurately represented. As a whole, the piece was completed using a monochromatic scheme to relate back to the rather monochromatic masonry feel of the city of Siena.

Jeremy Frusco. College Of New Jersey. Music major. Physics, Italian minors.

“Life" It's easy to get swept away. digital print

It's far too easy to get caught up in the enormity of life. In order to conquer the past and brace yourself for the future, you must learn to ride the waves. Here we see a women experiencing the grandeur of aspiration, determined to see it through. There is, however, a sense of foreboding as success is never guaranteed.

"View" - A reflection of consciousness. digital print

This piece is special to me because it reflects the importance I put into thought and feeling rather than physicality. The absence of the woman's head and face, usurped by the collective consciousness represented by the various orbs, is a declaration of intent to be thoughtful, universal and enlightened.

Cameron Garrity. Daemen College in Amherst, New York. Graphic Design major. Theater minor.

"Delaware Avenue" digital print poster

Buffalo has many neighborhoods with distinct identities and histories that are not promoted to a wider audience.  This piece was designed to promote the historic architecture of Delaware Avenue, one of Buffalo, New York's main streets. The poster also pays tribute to Tim Russert, a former resident of Buffalo as well as alumnus of Canisius High School.

Grace Kendall. University of Maine at Farmington. History and Secondary Eduction (double major).

"Junkyard" metallic finish print
Discovered in a junkyard in Oxford, Maine, this car lay forgotten for years. Grass grew up through its rusted floor, while its tires and interior parts had long ago been taken away, but sitting alone in the Maine woods, this car developed a beauty all its own.

"Lock & Key" metallic finish print
An original fixture in an 1860s Maine farmhouse, this lock and key is often passed by.
When photographed alone, however, its lines and detail make the image.

Artists Statement: "Photography allows for a melding of both professional and artistic passions. As a History major at UMaine Farmington, I spend much of my time learning about people and places from the past and gaining a new appreciation for those who may be gone but not forgotten.
     Conversely, there are many things that are forgotten but not gone. Photography allows me to show an artistic appreciation for these objects, whether it is an abandoned car or the lock and key of an 1860s Maine farmhouse. These are things that may be overlooked by many, but in them I feel a connection to our shared past, and an inspiration to photograph them in a way that convinces others they are worth a second look."

Jessica Louisa Koch. University of Southern Maine. Media Studies major.

Photo Series: "Don't Ask Don't Tell Rally (Featuring Lady Gaga)"  digital media

Artist Statement: I currently live in Portland, ME where I attend college. 
My goal in life is to travel and learn—I want to photograph and document everything I see. I use Canon cameras, Adobe photoshop, and darkrooms for my work. I’m also an aspiring filmmaker and an avid graphic designer and have worked with everything from business cards to designing websites. After college I plan to continue my education through Graduate Studies at another University.

Rebecca Ann Lessner. Point Park University. Photojournalism major. Biological Sciences minor.

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"Natural Feel"  digital photography

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Artist Statement: "My work focuses mainly on the beauty of the natural world, the preservation of it, and always striving to bring something to the viewer that can easily be overlooked in our day-to-day lives. Often through projects I work with the theme of "Man Verses Nature", always showing how nature will recapture what was originally its own in the end. Sometimes its refreshing to just take a stroll in an untouched part of the world though, to get away from the changes man can't help but impart. With my work you'll always find that 'Natural Feel' of the photographer going back to her roots in nature."

Stephanie Lyon. University of Massachusetts Lowell. Graphic Design Major. Writing Minor.

“Ripe” digital media

Artist Statement: With these portraits of my grandparents, I am demonstrating the importance of maintaining tradition while showcasing the beauty of old age that is lost in today’s fast-paced culture.  Older generations are not outmoded but essential, as they have a different way of seeing the world that emphasizes togetherness over singularity and quality over mass production.

     I have composed these photographs as a reminder to enjoy life before it passes you by.  Society places an enormous emphasis on youth and wealth, forcing individuals to move too quickly through a life that is fleeting.  I conceived this nostalgic piece to conjure memories of family to remind the world of what is truly important.  We should enjoy minute moments and be aware of the loveliness and wisdom of maturity.  It is important to learn something from those that came before us, even if only a recipe, that can be passed down to our own children.  History repeats itself, so we should want to be able to learn as much as possible from those who were a part of it. 

     We should always appreciate the people that surround us.  Like moments, they are impermanent.  This is very important to me as I lost my father’s parents without being able to say goodbye to them.  The dinners we shared together vanished and my only regret in my life is that I did not get to learn more from my grandparents.

     I think we all need to remember to appreciate our elders and know that we can all learn something from them.  They can teach the people who travel at breakneck speeds to slow down.  They can show us to take our time, as they know from experience that it will be worth it in the end.  They can teach us how to appreciate.  They can teach us not to lose touch with ourselves and each other, because in the words of Robert Frost, “nothing gold can stay”.

Laura Markowitz. C. W. Post/ Long Island University. B.F.A. in Arts Management.

“Cancer” digital photography

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I shot a series of photos of a friend during the time that my sister was being treated for breast cancer. I wanted to catch the emotions that I saw my sister going through. Black and white photography helped keep the focus on the dark shadows under her eyes and the contrast against her pale face.  

I wanted the viewer be able to feel the drain and exhaustion mentally and physically that the subject was feeling.

Sophia Sobers. New Jersey Institute of Technology. College of Architecture and Design. B.S. Architecture Minor Communications.

“Entrapped” 
Approximately 10 "capsules", ranging from 1" circumference up to 8" circumference. 

My work consists of a broad range of mediums, from analog to digital; paintings, installation, photography, videos and animations, and interactive.


The idea of growth & decay - the natural cycle of life, spirituality, spiritual embodiment and lack there of in the current social world is the focus of my projects. Through the use of fine detail, connections, and repetitive forms, each piece becomes a cohesive whole, reminiscent of abstract cellular organisms. Currently my work focuses on the disruption of the natural cycle of growth due to technology and society. The creation of new fungus and bacteria growths, the juxtaposition of rotting wood and metal into a dialogue of how these materials both rely and destroy each other, are just pieces to this overall story.

Brie Skinner. University of Massachusetts Lowell. Chemical Engineer.

Dreaming in Memories book, multi-media

Artist Statement: I like dreaming.  It is my easiest escape from reality. The abstract landscapes and characters in the dreams, that are more than often of a macabre nature, become the muse for my art.  Whether through sculpting, drawing, painting, or a combination of multiple mediums, I use art as my way of materializing my dreams into a form displayable to others in the best way possible. My art is my thoughts, my memories, all combined into an array of symbols to convey some encrypted message. My mind is but a disorderly enigma, and so is what my creations become. 

It’s like there’s an entirely different person inside of me.  I love sciences, enough to the point that I am looking towards a career in Nanotechnology, but at the time I can’t seem to let go of my mind’s need for expression. I cannot pick one over the other, and I cannot solely use art as an “add-on” to my major. With my desire to create pieces like this, I am allowed to momentarily forget that I ever wanted to be anything more than an artist – a desire that I find being pushed to the back of my mind with the onslaught of mathematical and scientific formulas. But I don’t want to let it go so easily.

Emily Stevenson. College of St. Elizabeth. Psychology & Philosophy [double major].

"The best things in life" 10" x 15", digital photography
Taken in Lambertville, New Jersey, I saw the quote and knew that there was a story there.

"Nugget" 12" x 8" digital photography

The longing to explore and play and chase after your dreams - or a squirrel. What I love about this image is that is displays the raw nature of puppies, wanting to explore and play, and what we should encourage in all of use, play and imagination.

Artist Statement: I like photography that has meaning. When I plan a photo series I want to display a cause or story. This is why I'm drawing to engagement photography and photographing real life events. I want to tell stories through the lens of my camera. Every person in the world has a story, and I want to help capture the moments that make that story what it is - special to every individual. If I can give someone that gift, of letting them have forever memories then I've done my job. More creatively I love digital photography that mirrors film work. Trying to capture the graininess, the light leaks, and double exposure in digital photography, without editing, is something I strive for.