Sam Schultheis

Professor Connie Pennisi

Foundations

30 October 2015

The Windows of Vulnerability exhibition is a gallery currently being hosted by Alfred

University at the Cohen Gallery. Three artists, Lauren Gallaspy, Hollis Hammonds, and Sara

Parent-Ramos, were tasked with showing vulnerability in unique ways using various kinds of

mediums. Three pieces, Once Bitten, Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit, and Sometimes a Head is a House,

stand out in showing vulnerability.

People sometimes feel trapped inside of themselves and left to deal with their own

devices. Lauren Gallaspy’s “Sometimes a Head is a House” shows that vulnerability is

oftentimes an internal struggle. By having the subject’s head being a house, one can see that

the internal struggle of not wanting to open up to people and “stay inside” of themselves.

Having the subject be topless shows that she feels vulnerable on the outside and may feel like

she doesn’t care about her appearance. It’s also an interesting note that the artist drew the

body in such a way that it doesn’t reflect the image of a perfect body, with large breasts and a

very slim figure. This gives a more realistic and personal feeling to whoever is viewing this work,

especially for women.

Another interesting piece by Lauren Gallapsy is “Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit.” This piece shows

two rabbits that are not very recognizable at first sight, which may be interpreted as them

hiding from the viewer, and another very visible rabbit above them that’s connected to the rest

of the piece by strings. The top rabbit does not appear to be very animate or possibly dead,

which implies that it’s sacrificing itself for the other ones and to create the buildings that divide

the two groups of rabbits. This shows vulnerability in the idea of sacrificing for what you want

and love.

The last piece in the series of ink on vellum drawings by Ms. Gallaspy is “Once Bitten.”

This piece invokes a feeling of pain and suffering after being hurt. After examining the drawing,

two dogs are visible instead of one, which gives a feeling of being hurt by others. Bones and

blood come from the dog’s mouth which visualizes pain and suffering. The dog is also shown

with wounds on its body which implies it has been hurt before. This piece clearly shows a

theme of vulnerability.

Vulnerability is an emotion that most anyone can relate to. Lauren Gallaspy is very

effective at conveying this emotion in Windows of Vulnerability.