On Saturday, April 27, the second Art and Design Senior Seminar art installation known as the Meraki II Exhibition took place in the SXU Gallery located in the Warde Academic Center.
Even though the reception has passed, those interested can still come and witness the installation from April 22 through May 8.
The word “Meraki” is used by modern Greeks to describe a person leaving a piece of themselves, for example soul, creativity, or love within their work. Artists tend to do this with their work, as their passion is what fuels this process.
There are six artists that have their work being displayed in the SXU Gallery, which are Deandra Stokes, Joseph Luna, James Miller, Alma Tovar, Ethan Gray, and Brenda Bueno.
Deandra Stokes is displaying work that is a combination of her two loves from the past four years she has been at SXU.
These have been being a graphic designer major and being a member of the cross country and track team. At the beginning of her artist statement Stokes stated, “Using quotes from female athletes, I screen print my designs onto different apparel to bring awareness to the program when the designs are worn, but most importantly the girls are proud to wear them because it is a reminder that they are strong, and can do anything they put their mind to.”
She displayed some of the apparel for the guest to see and the logo designed she used represents strength, power, and femininity.
Joseph Luna is an eco-artist and is displaying his installation that is titled, “Thanks for Saving Our Environment” as a way to illustrate how mankind has polluted the planet.
The wave is composed of plastic bags and fishing line that is surrounded by the sands of the ocean floor. There is no life portrayed in this work on purpose.
The trash used was retrieved from the streets and used to shape the wave. The fishing line is to represent much to that which torments harbors and reefs.
At the end of his artist statement Luna says, “The wave churns in a manufactured way suggesting the death of its natural beauty and the future of our oceans.” This piece has a deeper aesthetic than just something to look at. It is a piece to call attention to the sensitive state that the planets oceans are in due to pollution.
James Miller is exhibiting his work titled “#muslimban: Silkscreens of Protest” which consists of six 18”x24” red, white and blue silk screen prints, that are protesting the 2017 travel ban that was put in place by the Trump administration, that was then supported by a 2018 Supreme Court ruling.
This is a series of six pieces that are split into two triptychs (3- piece series), which is entitled Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness.
“Over the last year, I engaged with and was asked to join Saint Xavier University’s Muslim Student Association and spoke at multiple Chicago Islamic organizations and faith centers, seeking feedback and advice while creating these prints. That engagement has led to new areas of discovery in both my art and the direction of this series,” said Luna at the end of his artist statement.
Through using the method of silkscreens, Luna has been able to design and hand print works that celebrate the lives of Muslim Americans and challenge world views that might view Muslims and Middle Eastern immigrants as inherently dangerous.
Alma Tovar is showcasing their handcrafted book, Tangible, which is filled with original poetry and illustrations.
Tovar’s artist statement began with, “The beautiful thing about crafting your own book is the act of bringing life to the magic of your own imagination through your hands. It’s not to say that the beauty of your words, or even illustrations, are an illusion. In fact, they are much more than that. The unison of text and image can do much more than exist as graphic design; it allows your reader to enter a world beyond that of their own.”
All parts of this book were constructed during a time where loss was prominent in the artist’s life.
The main purpose of Tangible is a way to come to terms with the negative memories that enclosed grief, anger, depression, and anxiety.
Through this book, the poetry is supposed to connect with the readers and bring people together.
Ethan Gray is displaying his artwork which consists of digital illustrations of characters and the worlds the characters live in based on simple visuals or subjects he sees in everyday life.
Gray’s artist statement begins by stating, “When it comes to creating something, I try to go about it in the most natural way possible for myself. I think of my workflow in the same way to that of what goes into the creation of jazz music. The work process starts with a simple foundation, then you create the rest around it. Often on impulse and what you feel from the rhythm.”
He uses a mechanical pencil and a sketchbook when he is drafting concepts, then he goes onto work on his iPad Pro or Wacom Tablet for the finished digital piece.
An app can be downloaded when viewing some of his work that brings it to life and instructions are included in his artist statement.
Also, more of Grays work can be found on his Instagram page @GrayComics.
Brenda Bueno is presenting her children’s pop-up book, School time, Tiempo de Juego. Bueno grew up in a Mexican household as a first-generation American citizen, and speaks both Spanish and English.
“What started off as an alphabet book soon became a bilingual book and then turned into a pop-up. Although it was not my original concept I deeply enjoyed the whole transformation process. It allowed me to dig into my roots and at the same time be able to help younger children through the use of imagery in the typography,” stated Bueno at the end of her artist statement.
The inspiration for this book comes from the artists roots and was soon made into a bilingual pop-up book for children.
Students at SXU are encouraged to go see and support these creative works of art by their peers while they are being displayed. Words can only go so far when describing these unique and diverse installations.
Kylee Rus
News Reporter