Clifford: The Little Red Room

By Xiaoying Wu Hong

Off to the side, in the back of The Forum Art Space, is a little red room.

The walls, towering at a height of nearly 17 feet, are painted with a bright shade of cherry red. Named after the familiar childhood character, The Clifford serves as an additional gallery space for The Forum.

The Clifford originated as an extension of the Main Gallery. Though it was often delegated as a storage unit, as artists didn’t have enough work to fill up the gallery space entirely. Co-directors Nikki Salvestrini and Pattie Jane Allen had decided to convert the space into its own separate exhibition room.

The Clifford showcasing work from “Doodles: Boners and Cowboys” (Photo by Connor Dunleavey Perry)

“We decided it should be its own smaller gallery for people who don’t have a large portfolio,” Salvestrini said, “so that more non-VA majors get to show off their work.”

In addition to being a more approachable option for submission, The Clifford doubles as the designated space for performance pieces and film showings. The Clifford focuses more on abstract themes than physical work.

“For The Clifford, we look at student proposals and artists’ statements more than their portfolio,” Salvestrini said.

“It creates room for mixed-media projects like poetry and music,” said Kerrin McCarthy, a sophomore communications and journalism major.

The warm red tones of the paint, wooden trims and low wooden coffee table emulate the vibes of a mix between a saloon and a comfy living room. The intimate atmosphere and smaller scale allow artists to be more experimental in the installation of their work.

“The Clifford is designed to be more of a living room vibe, focusing on performance pieces,” Salvestrini said.

Miya Mann, a senior creative writing major and philosophy minor, held her poetry performance exhibit “Safe Space” in The Clifford on Feb. 25. An array of envelopes is hung on the wall, warmly lit by candles scattered about the room.

Envelopes arranged in a grid on the wall of The Clifford for “Safe Space” (Photo by Dariana Lalin)

Dariana Lalin, a sophomore arts management major, had attended the show. “She [Mann] read out three poems, it was very nice,” she said. “I like it when events have a little interactive part. She had a prompt asking what makes you feel the most safe.”

Mann’s event, encapsulating the idea of what it means to have a safe space, had transformed The Clifford to mirror her theme.

The back wall of The Clifford transformed into a stage for Mann’s poetry performance. (Photo by Dariana Lalin)

Justin Knowles, senior communications major, will be opening his show “Prompted Portraiture” in The Clifford on April 1.

“I’m very appreciative of the Clifford,” Knowles said. “I’m not in the art department; I’m a communications major. So, when it comes to trying to get into those spaces, it’s kinda hard because the art majors get priority.”

“To be able to engrave myself in some kind of art weekly, I’m very grateful for The Clifford,” he said.

In addition to artist shows, The Forum hopes to host workshops in an effort to engage with the wider Purchase community. These workshops will be open to all students, no matter the major.

“The goal with these events is to create more opportunities for people out of the visual arts majors to get exposure to the arts and crafts,” Allen said. “And also, a chance to participate in hands-on activities.”

The details of these events are being finalized, and updated information will be posted on The Forum’s Instagram page. The Forum hopes to team up with other services on campus, such as Mount Olympus, all hosted in The Clifford.

“And just because it’s a smaller space than the rest of the gallery, doesn’t mean that big things cannot happen in there, “ Salvestrini said.