"Seeing God" Dadian Gallery Wesley Theological Seminary Through Dec. 15
Grade: A-
The Dadian Gallery, right next door to AU in the Wesley Theological Seminary, is currently displaying a small collection that exposes different ways artists view spiritual life. It is a mind-opening experience for anyone who visits.
The exhibit showcases 29 different artists and 38 pieces of work. Each piece is a different exploration of each artist's interpretation of the spiritual world. The exhibition "explores how contemporary artists of varying religious backgrounds envision the sacred or encounter the holy through their work," according to curator Deborah Sokolove.
At first it is hard to make sense of everything in the exhibit, because there is such differentiation between the pieces. The exhibition features many different artistic mediums ranging from lithographs, etchings and woodcuts to a handmade paper chandelier. The subjects ranged from a print of a ginkgo leaf to a linoleum block print of Jesus' sacrifice.
"Heavy," an etching by Yvonne Boudreaux, features a wounded white dove trying to fly but bleeding. Stones tied to the bird's feet pull it down. According to Boudreaux, the dove represents the human spirit, and humans want to take flight like the dove. Unfortunately, humans carry burdens with them and thus are as handicapped as a bird trying to take flight with stones tied to its feet.
Another artist, Kjellgren Alkire, uses a linocut screenprint that reads "Git Saved Tonite" in the work. This piece is inspired by the JesusRodeo and asks the underlying question of whether spirituality and fun can be intertwined.
At first, it takes a minute to realize the chandelier is part of the exhibit and not part of the gallery's d?cor. Lauren Kussro's "A Handful of Tranquility" hangs like a spiritual figure above the other gallery works. The piece was inspired by "the inherent design and beauty found within the natural world," Kussro said.
The far-right wall of the exhibit features Mary Hood's four-piece work "Into Black." The darkness of the four pieces looks almost sinister to the viewer. Hood said, "The darkness of the 'Into Black' series spoke to me of contradiction, of dark matter present in the atmosphere and of the time-space continuum closing in upon itself. The current global climate of war, social and political inequality, occupation and conflicting interests and ideologies all sought refuge in this darkness." Hood's spiritual interpretation of the current state of the world allows viewers to personally connect with the piece and recognize the same feelings the artist used as inspiration.
Kore Widrekinde McWhirter's line etching "Carionne Crone" is a peculiar and seemingly ominous piece that features a bird with its insides exposed in a night scene next to a human face. The artist uses this scene to expose a sacrifice. More specifically, it is "a mother-procurer who sacrifices her children and those of others to the hierarchic powers-that-be," said McWhirter's personal description.
Helga Thompson's "Milagros in the Wind" entrances the viewer with brilliant, metallic colors. Her monoprint serves as a representation of love and peace. The female subject is holding a string of objects that she collected from different times and cultures. Like the subject, it is the internal and external experiences of humans that shape a precious understanding of life and a need for peace, according to Thompson.
This exhibit exposes the clear distinction between what is considered spiritual and what is considered religious. It is a unique display of beautiful art that leaves the viewer questioning her own interpretation of the spiritual world.
"Seeing God" is a juried exhibit featuring jurors from the renowned Washington Printmakers Gallery. Artists on the jury included Pauline Jakobsberg, Trudi Ludwig and Ellen Winkler.
