Gray Area Mag: Spring 2022

gray area

Spring 2022 issue 2

THE FOSNOT ART GALLERY

WRITTEN BY KENDRICK HAWKINS

When it came time to pick a spot for Gray Area's next photoshoot of the year, I knew it had to be inside The Catherine Fosnot Art Gallery and Center.LocatedinsideHarrisPlace(its atrium pictured on the right), the FosnotGalleryholdsaspecialplacein my heart. I was the assistant to the owner, Cathy Fosnot, since September of2020upuntilafewweeksagowhen she had close the physical space. Luckily, GAM captured the secret beauty of the gallery and the building it was in to prove the enormous potentialNewLondonholds.

An ode to the former hidden gem of downtown New London

At the time of this shoot, a retrospective of artist Fred Gutzeit's work from 1966 to 2021 was on display.Unfortunately,hepassedaway in January. Gutzeit was an incredible artist living in NYC who had been painting and drawing since he was in his teens. I was lucky enough to be a part of the curatorial process for this show. Gutzeit had me at his studio in the Bowery where I saw his vast collection of pieces. The gallery ended up consigning 50 paintings and drawings for the retrospective as well ashundredsofprints.

As a premier contemporary art gallery inNewLondon,CT,theFosnotGallery promoted and showcased the work of a variety of artists. Situated between Boston and New York, it provided the work of new and emerging artists alongside classic, well-established pieces. The gallery provided a space thatfacilitatedanetworkforlocaland nonlocalartists.Thespacewasusedto encourage and foster connections withintheNewLondoncommunityand beyond.

Fred Gutzeit. Tree, Field, and Minnows, 1966. Oil on canvas.

Fred Gutzeit. Lacoste Oak No. 2, 1984. Watercolor and ink on paper.

The show aimed to capture Gutzeit's many stages of his work over a 55-year span. From early detailed landscapes to wild, vibrating, folded spaces, the exhibition spoke to the artist's search for pattern and structure. “All my life,” Gutzeit explained, “I’ve worked to see 'form'aspoetryinmy'findings'."

Fred Gutzeit was never satisfied with capturing the realism we “see“ in nature. He continually sought a realism through abstraction to capture the hidden complexity of nature. Using contemporary physics models and speculation about “multiverses,” Gutzeit presented us with new visions of space, interaction, and human identity. His use of color and dimensionality are bold and wondrous, providinguswithimagesofdeepnatureunfoldinginspace/time.

Fred Gutzeit. Barbara's Falls, 1999. Acrylic on canvas.

Serving as Cathy Fosnot's assistant for almost two years gave me an entirely enhanced appreciation for art and the necessity of it across all towns, no matter how small. The experiences I had throughout my time working in the gallery are ones that will shape my entire future. From meeting artists like Fred Gutzeit to curating entire shows with myboss(andmentor),IcameawaywithmoreknowledgethanIcould havehopedtogaininallmytimeatcollege.

Although the Fosnot Art Gallery may no longer hold its spot at 165 State Street, its former presence will continue to be felt and remembered. The connections that were made because of the gallery'sexistencewillcontinuetogrowastimegoeson.

Fred Gutzeit. Otter Falls No. 24 and 25 Binary (Matter and Antimatter), 2007. Acrylic on paper on two canvases.

PSYKHE

By Heather Evered

Isyourpersonalityreallythatevident by the way you dress? Online clothes retailer PSYKHE seems to think so. Perhaps people who wear bolder colors are more outgoing, those who wear athleisure more laidback, or those who wear prints more creative. Whilethesearestereotypesoffthetop of my head, PSYKHE claims to have gotten fashion down to a science based on your individual personality traits.

IfyouhavetakenPSY100duringyour college career, you are probably familiar with what behavioral psychology refers to as the “Big 5.” These traits are said to be the main basis of one’s personality and consist of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Based on these traits, PSYKHEclaimstofindclothingthatis themost“you.”

"You wear what you are"

Theprocessstartswithathree-minutepersonalitytestthatconcludeswith your own personal “personality code.” From here, you can view how you scored on each scale, your best clothing matches, and even descriptions about yourself. PSYKHE encourages you to go through and rate your clothing matches so they can get a better understanding of your style, but in my experience, I was a big fan of what they had suggested. PSYKHE can alsoalterthesesuggestionsbasedonanygivenmoodoroccasion.Manyof the mood suggested items are centered around theories of color psychology,allowingyoutoreflectyourmoodinyoureverydaylooks.

Aside from individual fashion, PSYKHE also applies their model to businesses. Based on the desired customer of a store, PSYKHE will ensure that clothing recommendations fit that profile based on demographics and perceivedpersonality.

Will this work for everyone?

Definitely not, but the psychology major in me had to try it first-hand. Overall, I would suggest giving it a try! If nothing else, it is always fun to see how your results turn out and vary fromyourfriends.

"Discover why you wear what you wear"

Modeling Perspective

Written By Ella Rudisill

I am by no means someone who feels comfortable in front of a camera. Growing up in the age of Instagram, where one presents their life through a curated series of portraits, I’ve always been haunted by the notion that I, inevitably, don’t photograph well. Going into the Fosnot Gallery shoot, I had this idea lodged in the back of my mind. I asked myself what would happen if the angle of my head or the way I unnaturally placed my hands became the ruin of hours of photographers' careful work. However, when I arrived at the gallery, my busy mind was calm. I realized that as a model, I was not the centerpiece or focal point of the shoot. Instead, I was a background character in a story told by the paintings. Models moved from piece to piece, first admiring and then doing their best to accentuate the bold colors and patterns within each canvas. We based our movements and attitudes on the personalityoftheart,andbecauseofthis,Ifeltrelaxedanddynamicwhilemodeling.

Shoes of Conn Students

Words By Bianca Falcone

Around four decades after sneakers were marketed for sports use in the 1930s, they became a daily staple. Now, sneakers are marketed as a way of expression. Sneakers speak to sports interest, culture, music taste, film,andcomfort.

Currently, trends seem to be cycling popular classicsfromthe70sand80swithnewdropsof Dunks colorways and retro Jordans in an effort to introduce more eclectic styles and takes on theclassicsneaker.

What shoes are grabbing the attention of Conn College students? Ezra Norris, Gemma SavitzVogel, and Eric Lu share their thoughts on how theygotintothefootwearrealmoffashion.

Wearing Karhu Fusion 2.0s, Ezra surprisingly admits to being “kinda a sneakerhead” when growing up. Evolving from only wearing basketball shoes, specifically Kyries, in middle school to now having a variety of shoes, Ezra has been filling out more of his collection. Hesitant to wear anything other than sneakers for most of his high school years, Ezra used his freshman year to begin branching out. Once at college, purchasing the Doc Marten 1460 lace-up boots wasabig step.Recently, heacquired hisfirst pair ofDoc Marten Adrianloafers.

His approach to building an outfit with any shoe has stayed consistent. Ezra always starts surrounding the pants and shoes. When styling the Doc Marten 1460s or the Adrian Tassel loafers, Ezra enjoys dressing them down. Pairing them with white socks and loose fit jeans helps to mitigate the flashy effect of a formal shoe. “Having a good pair of shoes can make an outfit. You can wear something really simplewhen you havegood shoes.”

Ezra finds most of his style inspiration from everyday encounters. When in cities, he is attune to other people’s dress and the practicality of comfort and mobility. Heprioritizesfashion stylesfit for theday-to-day lifestyle.

As someone who focuses on sustainable fashion options and thrifts most of his wardrobe, Ezra acknowledges the challenge that comes with thrifting shoes. When purchasing new sneakers, he focuses his attention on more timeless and classic pieces and believes in having a solid rotation of footwear. Aware that buying shoes is not always the most economical, Ezra explains, “If you have enough shoes in your arsenal that you wear on a daily basis, then you're not gonna wear any of them out too quickly.” This approach allows for economy and an awareness where“you’renot constantly buying new shoesand throwing out old ones.”

Emerging from the other room sporting a felted wool Russian Sauna hat, Eric demonstrates the excitement of experimentation and irony within the fashion world.

When asked to describe his style and explain his outfit choice today, Eric responded, “My style is kinda all over the place,” gesturing to his shoes. I looked down, noticing the heavy duty camo Crocs. He advises, “Don't take anything too serious.A lot ofthesefashion peopleareso serious.”

Eric Lu first got into sneakers in 2017. Back when Bodega was less known on Newbury Street, he attended the drop for the Air Force 1 Acronym with zipper. Hooked on the idea of experimentation with zippers and other flexible elements, he returned the next day for the Travis Air Force 1, which you can deconstruct and rearrange, playing with thenuanceoftheshoe.

Eric balances his shoes among classics, newer eclectic designs, and even more subtle designs within the details. One of his favorite more subtle pairs is a JJJound Designscollaboration with Reebok.

Eric doesn't think of shoes in terms of a collection. Similar to Ezra, he bases his outfits around the shoe. He likes to stick with dark pants so his shoes pop, and since most of his shoes are colorful and dynamic, it works to wear all-black. Other times, hecomplementsmonochromeand coordinating colors, for examplepairing his blue Travis Scotts with a blue jacket. He finds inspiration from fashion designers, artists, and brands he follows on Instagram, but rather than cut and pastean outfit, heprefersto createhisown distinct look.

As an artist, Eric approaches fashion similar to how he makes music. “When you want a certain sound or are so focused on looking a certain way, you can get overwhelmed with options and distractions,” he says. “Listening to other people's music when you are trying to make your own will just drown out your creativity.” He appreciates others’ style as helpful for inspiration but, “in some other way, it is very distracting.” He believes this philosophy: finding your own style can be extended to all fieldsofart.

Despite his interest in fashion, Eric would not consider himself a hypebeast or sneakerhead. Explaining the definition of a hypebeast as “someone who is all-in with whatever is trendy and who doesn't have their own belief or thought on the trend,” Eric shakes his head casually. Laughing, he adds, “I don't think the hypebeast sneakerheadswould wear camo Crocslikethis.”

"FINDING YOUR OWN STYLE CAN BE EXTENDED TO ALL FIELDS OF ART"

Sitting on the floor in Gemma’s room, I listen as Gemma walks me through her look of the day: a gray hoodie underneath her newly gifted white Bathing Ape denim jacket, with tan khakis and her Starfish Jordan 4s. When showing me her 4s, sheliftsup her khakis, flaunting her pink unicorn crew socks.Shegrins.

Having acquired auniquesenseofstyle, Gemmaadmitsthat yearsago shehad all Air Forces and started to get bored of the repetition in her closet. Her first breakout purchase was the Ugly Duckling dunk low veneer. She recalls how she was attracted to the unique color combination of her favorite colors, green and brown, paired with a vibrant purple. “If I see a pair of shoes I’ve never seen before and I likethem, it'slike, that'sit.”

Gemma’s fashion sense comes from her desire to set herself apart from the crowd. She explains that growing up as a twin, she always had the same thing as her brother in different colors, with no roomfor individuality.Finding her senseof expression through fashion and shoes, when looking for Jordan 4s, the Starfish caught her eye with its brown and orange accents, which reflect her preference for darker tones while also being distinct. While her newest addition, the Doc Marten Adrian Loafer, is trending she appreciates the variety it adds to her wardrobewith itsformal appearance.

Gemma categorizes her shoes into seasonal wear. For cold weather, she has her SteveMadden bootsin black and white, theCrazy HorseDocs, and theAdrian Doc Loafers to wear with thick pants and corduroys. For spring and summer, she likes Converse and Nike Blazer Rebels for more delicate outfits. She is looking to add a pair ofNew Balancesto her wardrobeand apair ofGolfLeFleurs.

When considering new shoes, Gemma says “I'm open to anything except outrageously expensive designer brands that aren't fashionable and the only thing going for themisabrand name.”

When asked about being labeled as a sneakerhead, Gemma does not find the term offensive. Picturing a cartoon character with a sneaker for a head, she chucklesand claimssheisnot up-to-dateon all the“sneaker lingo.”

Eyeing her collection, Gemmaissilent for amoment,and then saysthoughtfully, “I don't consider myself a sneakerhead but I am definitely an appreciator of sneakers.”

"If I see a pair of shoes I’ve never seen before and I like them, it's like, that's it.”

GRUNGE FASHION

Written by Dominique Moran

The infamous grunge look popularized by notable bands like Nirvana and repopularized through Tumblr in the early 2010s is back in style. What is the appeal of grunge, and why is it back? Grunge has a certain durability factor;itissupposedtolookworn.Grungearticlesofclothinghavealonger lifespan than other styles, as the wear and tear contributes to the style rather than detracts from it. Another cornerstone of grunge fashion is thrifting and secondhand apparel. In the current environmental crisis, sustainable fashion is on the rise. Thrifting is one of the primary ways collegestudentsinparticularcanhelpsavetheplanetandtheirmoneyall whilestayinginstyle.

The exploration of gender through grunge fashion is also trending as the oversized, silhouetted styles typical of grunge clothing allow for an androgynous, disguised look. Those looking to explore the fluidity of gender may turn to grunge as it can easily be made more feminine or masculine through accessorizing and makeup. Staples of grunge fashion at Connecticut College include but are not limited to: platform Doc Martens, Parker boots, baggy carpenter jeans,andlayerednecklaces.

Hot or Not: The Oscars’ Red Carpet Traditions

Words by Alexa Beckstein

The date of the 94th Academy Awards approaches, and as today’s stars prepare their speeches and Oscar-worthy looks, we here at Gray Area Magazine want to ask the age-old question, this time regardingtheceremonyitself—theOscars:inorout/hotornot/hit ormiss? TheOscarshavetraditionallybeenpopularnotonlyforthelittlegold mendistributedandHollywoodsuperstarsinattendance,butalsofor the night’s extravagant and influential fashion choices. The internet becomes overrun the day after the awards show with lists of the winners, the snubs and surprises of the night, as well as article after article on red carpet fashion, frequently structured like the typical “hotornot”magazinetrend,thoughnowamendedtothelessovertly controversial“bestandworstdressed”.

However, times have changed, and as a society we have become conscious of questionable media and cultural discourses which perpetuate harmful narratives, which the Oscars are no stranger to. Racial bias within the Academy has recently been highlighted as the generalpublichascometorecognizetheproblematicsystemicissues within the ceremony, its nominees and winners, and its values, with such cultural touchstones as #OscarsSoWhite sparking necessary discussion.

Sexism within the industry has additionally been brought into the limelight as the Academy Awards ceremony is now being examined with a more critical eye, including the media’s outdated red carpet behavior. Gone are the days where it was acceptable to unabashedly critiqueandlambastwomenfortheirfashionchoices.

Credit: Los Angeles Times

The Oscars red carpet should be a celebration of gorgeous attire, sparkling accessories, and trend-setting looks, yet female stars and artists have long been subjugated to media scrutiny and shaming. For the ceremony, a whole team (such as the actress, stylists, designers, makeup artists etc.) has spent hours upon hours creating, modifying, and finalizing a look they deem Oscar-worthy, yet next-day reception could nullify this hard work and excitement with a simple word: “worst-dressed”. At this event for on-screen exceptionalism, women are judged for more than just their cinematic workonthefamousOscarsredcarpet.

Recently, there has also been a call for increased creativity and enthusiasm stylistically for men on the red carpet, seeing as historicallymostsimplywearclassicblacksuits.However,itshouldbe noted that in the last few years men’s fashion choices at the Oscars and other awards ceremonies have become more bold and interesting, likely attributable to an influx of queer nominees and younger nominees present at these events who feel less constrained bysocietalgendernorms,whichinturnencouragesothermentofeel comfortable to make unique fashion statements and explore exciting fashionopporunities.

Gender roles and expectations are ultimately at the heart of the discussion surrounding women and men’s red carpet experiences. Themedia(asanextensionofoursociety)isquicktocriticizewomen, especiallysuccessfulwomen,andpitthemagainsteachother–hence lists of best and worst dressed. Fashion has historically been viewed as a feminine genre, and therefore men have not been pressured to participate in the adventurous fashion statements on the red carpet, knowingtheywouldbejudgedlessformakingbasicfashionchoices.

And, as the star of Hollywood awards ceremonies flickers and threatenstofade,thefashionoftheOscarscouldserveastheevent’s savinggrace.Duetothepandemicandrapidlydecliningviewershipin recent years, the previous Golden Globes ceremony was neither televised nor streamed, which does not bode well for the Academy Awards. However, viewers tune in to the Oscars for more than the ceremony and celebrities — the red carpet remains an integral draw for viewership. Perhaps if media outlets move away from limiting and critical narratives regarding the looks of the evening, the fashion at the awards show (regardless of gender) will energetically flourish and reinvigorate the spectacle, and a night which is dually known for the event itself and the garments worn will become more inclusive and accepting — dually within the film industry and on the famous red carpet. As our culture shifts towards increased diversity and calls for societal self-critique, one more “miss” and the Oscars may find it difficulttoeverbea“hit”again.

thanks to . . .

Co Editors-in-Chief

Creative Layout Directors

Head Photographer

KAT CARRION '22

KENDRICK HAWKINS '23

CARLY DENORA '22

MARTA DENNY '22

ELLA RUDISILL '25

BIANCA FALCONE '25

VICTORIA EDWARDS '25