Brigham Young University’s B.F. Larsen Gallery on the main floor of the Harris Fine Arts Center will be showcasing a new display titled “Nature and Nurture: Narratives of Family.” The exhibit will feature 10 artists’ depictions of the different dynamics of the family.
The exhibit will be on display Oct. 5-28. Many of the artists will be available for questions and comments Thursday, Oct. 14, beginning at 6 p.m. with a reception to follow at 7:30 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibit is available Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and admission to the exhibit and the reception is free.
The featured artists come from a variety of backgrounds and include fathers, mothers and young single adults. The artists are Brian Kershisnik, Lee Udall Bennion, Janis Wunderlich, Madison Smith, Annie Poon, Lisa Jackson, Justin Hackworth, Emily McPhie, Christopher Thornock and Emily Fox.
“The art they are showcasing is as diverse as their circumstances — etchings, linocut prints, paintings, ceramic sculptures and animations all come together to create an extensive dialogue about the family,” said James Swensen, co-curator of the exhibit and a member of the BYU visual arts faculty.
“The exhibition’s goal is to explore the complex relationships between mothers, fathers, daughters and sons through a diverse range of artistic media and styles,” he said. “By concentrating on images of the family, and parenthood in particular, this exhibition hopes to provide insight into the beautiful yet challenging dynamics that lie at the core of the family.”
The exhibit relied heavily on BYU art history students. Art history undergraduate Emily Larsen was also a co-curator, and the catalog for the exhibit was almost completely produced by students.
This is the second exhibit sponsored by the BYU Visual Arts Department’s Faith in Works Committee, whose mandate is to investigate the intersection of faith and art.
For more information, contact Emily Larsen at (801) 710-4057, emilyalarsen@yahoo.com. James Swensen can also be contacted at (801) 708-2913, james_swensen@byu.edu.
Writer: Brandon Garrett
