On Tuesday, April 20 at 4:30 p.m. in Harvey Auditorium, Union University’s Department of Art had their annual art faculty and staff exhibit panel.
The panel featured six art professors from the department, which included Steve Halla, Haelim Choi Allen, Aaron Lee Benson, Christopher Nadaskay, Melinda Posey and M. Paige Ward. These individuals led the event, and they started by introducing themselves, explaining what they do within the art department and identifying their pieces in the exhibit.
Halla, professor of visual theory and aesthetics and teacher of Arts in Western Civilization, showcased his first exhibit of photographs. His interest in cemetery art is what inspired his photos. Growing up, Halla was a part of an evangelical church that had no visual artwork. Since he was a visual person, he felt like something was missing from his experience. His first interaction with church art was when he passed by a Catholic cemetery. In the cemetery, he noticed the beauty and the power of figurative sculpture. About a year ago, he realized how many past photos he took of cemeteries. Halla’s daughters were the ones who encouraged him to showcase his work. It is an open-ended body of work, and he wants to continue doing it for as long as he can.
Posey is an associate professor of art who teaches graphic design. For her piece, she made books from on-hand materials. One of the books she made was from sourdough bread that her husband baked. She used his bread as the book’s bindings, and she made the paper out of yeast. Everything in the sculpture is crafted to reveal the anxieties and uncertainties of COVID-19. Posey shared how she was personally affected by the virus and how this piece of work was inspired by the frustrations she experienced when having to deal with the consequences from it.
“Each of us is exuviating some kind of feeling in this space,” said Posey.
Ward, ceramics and sculpture professor, wanted to use materials from domestic architectural spaces for her art piece, which will be used to question the ideas she wants to express by using opposing materials and forms. One aspect of her work is to explore how a time and space that has been destroyed is rebuilt.
“The precious memories of our past are glimpses of what is to come,” said Ward.
The event ended in a question-and-answer time where students were able to ask professors about their projects. One student asked how they made their work and where the inspiration for their work came from.
“I make lots and lots of sketches,” said painting professor Nadaskay. “I get an idea, then I make lots of sketches. I do research sometimes, but I’m an avid reader. I’m constantly thinking about things. I think that is what shapes my desire to express. I look at ideas that are worth communicating.”
“For me, I do a ton of research,” said Posey. “It could be a form of books, a documentary, or I looked up X, Y and Z. My work comes from what I have learned. A lot of my work is in the wonder of a new space.”
There were also questions about what to do when artists struggle with blocks in their creative thinking or how to proceed when fearful of what the next step is in their creative journey.
“I ask, what is it that I want to convey?” said art history professor Allen. “I look at the space and how to engage the space.”
Most of the professors said that perseverance and dedication were essential with getting through an artistic block.
“Take your big ideas and work them out in the studio,” said art department chair Benson.
