La Plata, Md. — College of Southern Maryland studio arts professor Andrew Wodzianski has transformed vintage pop-culture cake pans into thought-provoking artworks in his new solo exhibit, “Andrew Wodzianski is a Party Pooper,” now on display at the Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery on CSM’s La Plata campus.
The exhibit features brightly colored character cake pans mounted on the walls, instantly drawing visitors back to childhood birthday celebrations with familiar cartoon figures and whimsical designs. Yet Wodzianski subverts those nostalgic elements to deliver layered, darker commentary on consumerism, time, parenthood, and societal expectations.
Credit: College of Southern Maryland
“On a superficial level you could come in, glance at these pieces, be attracted to the color and texture, and have a memory recall of the characters,” Wodzianski said. “But if you take a moment to investigate it becomes a little darker and nefarious.”
Wodzianski began collecting the cake pans about eight years ago after spotting them at a local thrift store. The hobby evolved into a full artistic project as he reflected on contrasts between his own childhood memories and the world he envisions for his young daughter. Pieces like “Green Lies,” where Oscar the Grouch grins from a blue recycling bin, critique sustainability and consumerism. In “The Fortune Teller,” a message reading “not good” underscores the artist’s acute awareness of time slipping away as his child grows.
“These cakes are either completely self-reflective, or they are future thinking about conversations I’m going to have with my daughter,” Wodzianski said. “It’s me having to confront childhood, in part through the lens of being a father. It became a lot more meaningful and profound to me.”
As a professor in CSM’s Visual Arts program, Wodzianski teaches foundation-level color theory and second-year painting courses. Displaying his work on campus bridges the gap between instruction and practice, he explained.
“It’s really important for students to see their educators practice what they preach,” Wodzianski said. “My strength as an educator lies in large part that I’m doing it. I’m in the trenches with them producing pieces.”
The Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery, located in the Hank Willoughby Foundation Center for the Arts (FA Building) on the La Plata campus, hosts three rotating exhibits annually. It features visiting artists in spring and fall, alongside the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, scheduled March 31 to May 5 to showcase student-created works in various mediums.
Wodzianski noted that the gallery exposes students to fresh perspectives and encourages repeated visits for deeper engagement. Gallery talks provide direct access to artists for questions about process, intent, and execution not covered by signage.
Wodzianski will present a free, public Gallery Talk on February 12 at 2:30 p.m. to discuss his concepts and techniques. The exhibit remains open through March 26. Gallery hours align with campus operations; visitors should check csmd.edu for current details.
This installation marks another opportunity for the Southern Maryland community to experience contemporary art that blends accessibility with sharp social insight, right on the CSM La Plata campus.