`Art Professor Sue Jenkins’ solo art exhibit “Natural Natural Wonders” is filling the Suraci gallery with vibrant colors and abstract ideas. Found on the 2nd floor of the Shields Center for Visual Arts, this exhibit will be on display until Mar. 10.
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`“Natural Natural Wonders” was created over the course of about a year, during which time Jenkins was on a semester-long sabbatical to devote her time to her artwork and find her way back to fine arts and crafts.
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`“My inspiration was to highlight different parts of nature that we are so used to not noticing anymore,” explained Jenkins.
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`Within her exhibit is a variety of art methods such as canvas prints with digital collage, mixed media works on wood panels, mixed media reproductions of prints, series of posters, physical collage, and paper mache. She used mediums anywhere from newspaper, maps, acrylic paints, and cut paper to mark making, botanical illustrations, and photographs, many of which are original takes.
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`One piece Jenkins was especially excited about was her art/poetry book reclamation project. She took an old, used book and by using mixed media, created new artwork on each page. Among the artwork are various found words, picked out of the writing on the pages to create abstract poems. Even in the book, Jenkins ability to bring vibrant colors and abstract ideas showcase her talents across a variety of mediums.
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`“Even though they were very bright and colorful and seemed celebratory, they were really making statements about nature, climate change, pollinators, and what the future might hold,” said Christine Medley, Art Department chair and associate professor.
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`“Natural Natural Wonders” goes beyond the breathtakingly beautiful imagery, working as a method of activism by highlighting ideas such as the degradation of nature, how we have the responsibility to bring nature back and preserve it, and to notice what we have right now and make changes so we don’t lose it. The exhibit even has a piece depicting and promoting the feminine body, inspired after the overturning of Roe vs. Wade.
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`“My secret dream is that by coming here and just spending some time looking, some people will be inspired to get outside, make art, and not take life as seriously… to really appreciate the beauty around us. This Earth is amazing and I think our society has us so focused on doing, and achieving, and judging that we’re forgetting about some very integral parts of our humanity,” explained Jenkins.
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`In many of her pieces, nature is depicted through a number of different species such as animals, plants and fauna, and pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds. In the hopes to encourage people to pause and take notice, Jenkins created a physical and digital (with a QR code) scavenger hunt for people to interact with as they browse her exhibit. The QR code and lists of objects for the scavenger hunt can be found outside of the exhibit.
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`Also outside the exhibit is a collage station where people can stop and create their own collage, an offline space that is completely impulsive, interactive, and peaceful.
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`Jenkins’ exhibit is an inspiration for many students, showing that there is no limit as to what someone can create and that art can be a statement.
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`“Her art is inspiring to me,” said Dylan Pugh, first year graphic design major. “She has lots of abstract works and collages, which I really want to get into.”
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`Whether looking for inspiration or to simply get lost in breathtaking pieces of art, “Natural Natural Wonders” is definitely worth visiting.
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`Contact the writer:
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