Artists amp up mixed media’s social messages

By Sara Labor

One of my peers mentioned in a class that she was an art major. When my teacher asked what medium she worked in, she replied, “I’m more of an art admirer.”

I’ve discovered that  I am the art admirer. I have always envied those who have an eye to make art, who have the ability to put what they see on paper or in a sculpture, or, in some cases, on metal. The art show currently located in the Main Gallery of Memorial Hall, however, does not make me envious of the artist, because the real art is in the perception of the observer.

Nita Kehoe, the sculpture teacher at the Central Wyoming College, uses her fascination with bodies to create amazing, thought-provoking pieces. Each piece seems to have something new to discover.

Kehoe’s “Nature and Nurture” are by far some of the most intricate, eye opening pieces I’ve ever seen. “Nature and Nurture 1” had mostly pink pieces, while “Nature and Nurture 2” is made up of mostly blue pieces. The pink one was my personal favorite of the two. The more I looked at it, the more I discovered. For instance, at first glance, one might just see a bunch of pink things stuffed together. On closer

inspection, the viewer might notice the pink Barbie shoe, or the cookie recipe in the corner. The viewer might notice that each intricate piece put on this sculpture, like the frosting tip, tells the story of a nurturing mother.

The pink piece seems to demonstrate all those things which are expected of a woman: the femininity, the fashion, the baking. But its story seems to be so much more than that. A key on top of a chest gives one the idea of locking away one’s heart, and a closed eye in the corner gives a calming effect to the hodge-podge group of random things. Kehoe’s piece was very compelling to me. Its story was not an obvious one, instead, the story was meant to be told by the viewer. The viewer has an active part in creating the narrative of the piece.

Another piece of Kehoe’s art that stood out was “Delicate Regret,” a piece whose story is much more obvious. A tongue sticks out between razor blades, and feathers cover the bottom. Kehoe says that naming pieces is a very important part of her process. “Delicate Regret” shows exactly what one would think it would: that a sharp tongue leads to regret.

Two other artists, Matt Flint and Lonnie Slack, contribute to the exhibit. While Flint’s works did not capture my attention, Slack’s works stood out.

Slack develops his photographs on thin pieces of metal. This gives each piece interesting coloring and a beautiful shine. Most of the photos are hauntingly beautiful.

One of his most beautiful pieces is “Missing Friends,” a photo of three old, empty chairs. The third chair is darkened and set off in the background, unlike the other two, well-lit chairs. The empty, lost feeling leaves the viewer feeling nostalgic. I found myself wondering what friends were missing from the picture, why the chairs were empty. The photos really stay with a person, and it doesn’t hurt that, because they are developed on metal, the lighting and color change minutely with every angle you look at them from.

It sunk in as I appreciated Kehoe and Slack’s pieces that I don’t have to be envious of their talent for art. My talent may not be in putting together amazing sculptures, or drawing, or painting. My talent, rather, is being able to see the stories that artists tell, and this exhibit tells the best stories.