By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
When Tony Sansalone went home to Mansfield last March after the Bowling Green State University campus closed because of the pandemic, the artist took up COVID-19 as his theme.
Sansalone, a junior in the School of Art, was stuck at home, bored. The studio art major with a focus on drawing and painting realized he wanted to go big with his work.
Using graphite, pastels, and charcoal he drew a 10-foot-long image of himself and his parents in their living room, wearing masks. Then, he spray painted the word “quarantine” in bright red over the top of the image.
That technique, Sansalone explained in a telephone interview, was “something I was afraid of at first because there’s nothing like drawing for hours and hours and hours and then spray painting over it and changing it in a matter of seconds.”
His parents both came down with COVID-19, so “Stuck in Quarantine” has a second panel below. That part is comprised of 14 charcoal self-portraits, each from one of his days in quarantine.
The work paid off. On Saturday night, his “Stuck in Quarantine” won the Medici Circle’s Best of Show award at the 70th Undergraduate Art & Design Exhibition on campus.
The exhibit, which includes work by 90 students, opened Feb. 14 and continues through Feb. 28. It is open for in-person visits and is also available to view virtually.
“Stuck” also received the first place drawing award, bestowed by the faculty. Another of his three pieces in the show, “Family Separated by COVID,” won the second place drawing award.
Those pieces also address the pandemic. “I wanted to keep going with the realism factor of drawing and a narrative.”
He drew 21 portraits of people wearing masks, all stacked on top of each other, and then spray painted “Wear a Mask,” on top of the images.
“It wasn’t supposed to be political,” Sansalone said, “but now in this polarized world, it goes 50-50: Some will love it, some will hate it.”
“Family Separated” is the artist’s favorite of the three.
At the end of March, his niece was born. “We didn’t get to see or hold the baby,” Sansalone said.
The finely detailed charcoal image depicts his parents meeting their grandchild for the first time, looking at the baby held by their son through a window.
Though Sansalone has exhibited at the undergrad show before, this is the first time he’s won awards.
In his introductory remarks, Charles Kanwischer, director of the school, said that “for some students it is the first recognition, outside of the classroom, of the excellence of their work.” That’s important validation.
“For many of you participating in this show is the first step in a life long journey of professional success. You’re going to win many, many more awards. You’re going to participate in prestigious shows. You’re going to get jobs and get promotions, and witness the respect of your professional peers. But I hope you remember where it all got started, here in the School of Art under the guidance and mentorship of faculty devoted to your progress.”
Kanwischer still remembers the importance to him of having “a messy still life” accepted into the undergraduate show at the University of Iowa.
Sansalone has long been involved in art. He was attracted to BGSU because it had the best and most affordable art program. He was also impressed by the personable and welcoming attitude of the faculty when he visited. “Overall, it was always a good experience,” he said. “It was the best choice I made.”
He enrolled as a digital arts major, but found his skills and aptitude was suited to more traditional work.
His goal is to continue on to graduate school and then teach art at the college level. “That’s the path I’m on.”
