One of seven pieces in “The Study of Shape” series by Derek Raymond.

Derek Raymond, a senior Photography major from Malone, won the President’s Award for Best in Show at Arteliesque, the Fall 2022 Senior Exhibition of the Department of Visual Arts and New Media held at the Cathy and Jesse Marion Art Gallery at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

The seven pieces in Mr. Raymond’s photographic series, “The Study of Shape,” consist of macro product photography. Products shown are viewed in a macro, or extremely close, viewpoint. “These images represent the idea of how representational forms become ethereal and abstract when seen from different angles,” Raymond explained.

Images are in a toned black and white as color can enhance qualities, but also distract, Raymond indicated. Black and white allows the form of the shape to be seen alone. “I wanted a warm tone with these images because true black and white seemed very cold and harsh. I wanted the warm tone to make the images inviting,” he said.

“My work, inspired by Peter McKinnon and Edward Weston, explores how light and shape takes many forms. The time I spent on this series taught me how to be patient, and tested if I really knew what I was doing between pre-production, during photographing, editing and printing. I find it to be a testament to my time at SUNY Fredonia.”

The exhibition, which was on display Dec. 2-11, featured artwork by nine Animation and Illustration seniors – Mad Armstrong, Grace Dixon, Ryan Ludu, Wyatt Malave, Penn Mant, Don Marotta, Kathryn Marotta, MaryBeth Meier and Isabella Read – and one Photography major, Raymond.

Arteliesque is a play on the word “atelier,” an artist’s workshop or studio, and represents the exhibition participants’ transitional place between student and professional.