Artz, one of our EAC Interns, writes about his first day at the Art Center and artwork by Marzena Ziejka in the Evanston + Vicinity Biennial, on view from August 23 - September 21, 2025:
I go by the name Artz which is my last name. Of course I am going to have a passion for art which I try to make and analyze within my life. I like most art but I always try to find the most unique piece.
I chose to write about this work of art first because it was the most unique personally. This art work was called I think, I dream, I am by Marzena Ziejka. This seemed the most eccentric to me here at the "Evanston Vicinity Biennial" because it is not like the rest of the art here which are on canvases or non canvas art. This was an installation type which presented dandelions in their mature seed head stage at the bottom a box sided with mirrors including strings with seed particles clinging on while hanging from the top of the box. Among most art, this is more unique than most because of the creativity having nature inside of a closed space in an unnatural habitat with mirrors. Mirrors always add a kaleidoscopic illusion aspect to life, especially art.
I then looked at the artist name and wondered how to pronounce it and was interested in the cultural background of the artist. Maybe the culture influenced the choice of creation but most likely their personal life experience influenced their specific expression. I also pondered the title decision of the piece because it initially does not relate to the execution of the art. When I looked into the explanation of the artists piece, I learned this was an expression of their personal representation of what is calming to them which is nature giving explanation of the title. Their writing did not explain why they chose to make their creation with mirrors though which I am still intrigued about.
