Sandy Inspired Artists Share Experiences at Bergen Community College

Three artists, whose work is featured in Gallery Bergen at Bergen Community College, took the time to share their story of living through and in the wake of Sandy. The interesting part is how living through Sandy is represented in their art.

The art gallery is just one of a number of Sandy-related events at Bergen Community College over the next few weeks.

All of the artists below have work featured in the Hurricane Sandy Exhibit at Gallery Bergen, which will be on display through Dec. 4.

Caitlin Albright – Rutherford – Montclair State University

I remember seeing a photograph of a man standing near a tree on his property that had just been completely flipped over. I had never seen a tree from that angle before and it was just such a jarring image. My job was closed for a week after the storm so I just decided to draw.

In events such as Hurricane Sandy, we are forced to observe our environment from unsettling viewpoints. The objects or surroundings we might see every day, such as boats, telephone poles, or trees, are suddenly viewed from compromising new positions due to the sheer strength of the storm.

Judith Mazzucco – Clarksburg

The Storm was the great equalizer, bringing humankind down to the lowest common denominator, survival. The was all everyone did, try to survive. 

There was no electricity, no running water, no lights…nothing.

From Sun up to dark, time had been used judiciously, cutting trees of the house, the road, the farm lanes, the fences, locating gasoline, water and food. The most reliable source of light was the sun, followed by candles and flashlights. We desperately sought the solace that reading offered, a refuge from the grim day-to-day reality of the aftermath of the storm. When darkness finally came, the candlelight enveloped everything and everybody had a warm glow.

Greg Brophy – Hazlet – Syracuse University

My parents house flooded with about two feet of water. They were lucky. Many of their neighbors had fared much worse. I got my first glimpse of the aftermath on the weekend following the storm when I and my fiancé went down to help with aide and cleanup.

My hear sank as we walk around the town and saw the waterlines tattooed on the houses, trees that had severed dwelling in half, the ubiquitous florescent Xs painted onto former homes signifying their complete destruction; pink tags on doors forbidding anyone to enter.

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The Hurricane Sandy Exhibit at Gallery Bergen will be on display through Dec. 4. There is a 'Memorial Wall' in the gallery, which is a space for all who come through to jot down their memory or experience of living through Sandy. Stop off and pass on your story.