Two new exhibitions will be coming to the NKU Art Galleries on Feb. 14. They will display art in two exhibitions created by current students, NKU alumnae, as well as regional artists.
One of the featured exhibitions is curated by Saad Ghosn, Ph.D., an activist for peace and justice as well as a professor at the University of Cincinnati, and is called For a Better World. This exhibition features artists from this region and includes visual art accompanied by selected poems. These exhibitions are based off of a series of books Ghosn has been producing for the past 10 years by the same name.
This exhibition in particular is based on the books published from 2009-2010. “After I gather art for the books, I commit to the artists to show their work,” Ghosn said. The books are done with his organization S.O.S. Art, which stands for Save Our Souls. The goal is to give a voice to all of the artists who have been working towards a better world and trying to make a change, he said.
“If you can use art for peace and justice, it can be a very strong tool towards getting that message out,” Ghosn said. He says that art is very important in relating socio-economic messages to people. “Art is very important, it comes from within. It is a creative expression of yourself. If it comes out, it will affect those that see it.”
While Ghosn does not have a piece featured in the For A Better World Exhibit, he does have one featured in the other, titled “In Your Dreams” by the NKU Print Club.
Andrea Knarr, founder and printmaking area coordinator of the NKU Print Club, said that the theme of dreams will make it easier for people to interpret the art, that it would be more open for people to understand. The exhibit will include work by people active in Print Club, including current students, faculty, alumni and regional artists.
Director of Exhibitions and Collections David Knight said that this show is a great way for alumni to interact with the students and for the students to interact with other regional artists.
Ghosn’s piece is a series of eight wood cuts titled “A Robot’s Dream.” The series shows a robot that is reminiscing on the past, of dinosaurs and trees that were once present. The woodcuts are made to show how the improvement of technology can destroy beautiful things, Ghosn said. It is an ecological statement on global warming.
On Thursday, the galleries will open and anyone can come see the art. On opening night, some of the artists will be there to interact with the audience and answer questions.
The exhibits will run through March 8 in the Fine Arts building’s main gallery. Visitors can check out the art Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
