By Sylvie Simmons
Stepping into the gallery last Saturday afternoon, the ordinarily quiet and capacious space was now filled with seats. People gathered together to take in John Sparangana’s intricately collaged works, and the crowd observed the pieces as they listened to Ken Vandermark’s melodic saxophone and clarinet compositions.
On Feb. 28, the Benton welcomed 7C students, faculty and community members for the opening reception of the new exhibits: “The Meditative Object” and “John Sparagana: Interference Patterns.”
“The Meditative Object,” organized by Benton director Victoria Sancho Lobis and curatorial assistant Tristen Alizée Leone PO ’26, features an assortment of sculptures and works that reflect the history of contemplation and meditation across religious traditions. Across the hall, “John Sparagana: Interference Patterns,” showcases almost 100 collage pieces. This exhibition was organized by Solveig Nelson, curator of photography and new media, and Max Uehara PO ’25, post-baccalaureate curatorial fellow at the Benton.
“I’ve been to a lot of Benton shows,” attendee Mateo Chanel PO ‘28 said. “But this is really incredible, like none of the other shows that I’ve seen before.”