Elizabethtown College held a new artwork exhibit featuring artists from all over the world and their impressions of peace Thursday, Sept. 21.
The Brethren and the idea of peace, as embedded in the College’s message, is clearly evident in the artwork displayed in both the Lyet Gallery in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center and the Hess Gallery in Zug Memorial Hall.
The event idea first sparked when professor of art Dr. Milt Friedly and artist Andreas Kerstan met at an art fair in New York. The two stayed in touch and had the idea to exchange work in a gallery.
The idea of centering the art around peace came from Friedly and they were soon open to accept applications. They received around 200 applications and narrowed it down to about 50 pieces of artwork featuring artists from 10 countries.
The gallery will add artwork from American artists to the exhibit in Germany, which will premiere in June of 2018.
“Milt agreed to come with the same theme into Germany,” Kerstan said.
The artwork they received varied from the type of peace the artist wanted to convey. Kerstan commented on the different types, such as peace of self and peace from war.
Bowers Writers House Director Jesse Waters picked the written word for the artwork that was displayed.
“It’s a unique opportunity to see art from all over the world that addresses the College’s message,” Waters said.
Junior Adam Way, a gallery intern, acknowledged the way the art shows different types of peace and additionally uses a lot of hand symbolism. Way and a few other students helped set up the event beforehand.
Professor of history and Director of the Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking Dr. David Kenley is excited that students have the opportunity to view art and to interact with artists.
American artists Julia Kasdorf and Steven Rubin will be visiting the College. Students will have the chance to learn about the American artwork that will be included in the exhibit when it is added to the gallery in Germany.
The gallery gives the opportunity for American work to be displayed in a major gallery and can give the artists a new level of exposure.
Sophomore Anajulia Blanch said the gallery struck her with amazement. As a resident assistant, Blanch sees peace in her job every day.
“I apply it to what I do since peace is one thing you need to have in mind,” Blanch said.
Friedly responded to the differences in the artwork, whether the artists displayed anxiety and angst or peace. Friedly believes that every human has a relation to peace.
“The artists, whether visual or written, were able to express themselves personally and with a collective level as well,” Friedly said.
The artwork shows how the artists are thinking of the subject and shares their message through the use of different materials and approaches.
“The fact we can see that diversity and bring it to campus is good,” Friedly said.
