2009 Art Exhibits

Winter 2009

In the upstairs atrium, Antioch was pleased to present the paintings of Sachiko Furuya who describes her subject as "the universe within human beings.

"Since the early 1980's, my work has involved the creation of abstract-based social and political objects.  In 1996," she says, "I began to use materials on canvas and create three dimensional on a two dimensional surface. My paintings indicate a fourth dimension realm made with viewer's impressions." 

Two other projects were also on display upstairs. 

In the display case was one of the houses from In This House, a collaborative art project that explored the theme of "home" using altered art and collage techniques.

Each artist designed five altered art rooms to complete an individual 9"x12" 'house' that closes like a book or can stand accordion style. The Olde English House at No. 4 1/2 North Parade Passage was created by AUS Library Associate Jill Haddaway.

The results from Ken Turner's Fall 2008 Environmental Studies Pacific Northwest Botany Project were also on view.

As part of a botany unit, which included a Service-Learning lab planting natives and removing invasive species at Colman Park, students collected ten local plants from the Pacific Northwest. They were required to gather a wide variety including: natives and invasives, deciduous and conifers, shrubs and trees.  These plants were pressed, identified and displayed with scientific and artistic craftsmanship.

Participating students were Melissa Brown, Stephen Littlepage, Karen Conroy and Julia Faulkner.

On display in the Library were works by painter and printmaker Kristina Hagman. Of the series Hagman writes, "I have had a love bordering on fanaticism of the columns and curves that make up Seattle's urban freeways. They are full of rhythm and strength. In the twilight, the eye turns them into ribbons of undulating color, and a rainy day brings out slick silver, shimmering gray beauty to an overpass. The freeways are akin to Greek temples with their columns and lintels, but with the amazing exception of the curve. Advanced construction materials have given these modern temples the gift of feminine elemental turns — curves that catch light and bring lyricism to an otherwise stoic monument. This work depicts the urban landscape around and under the freeways of Seattle."

Spring 2009

In the library, Antioch presented Teri Akin, a Seattle native and former software designer, who focused her documentary work on traveling to underdeveloped countries, establishing a connection with her subjects while collaborating with a nonprofit for their benefit. Blending her artistic and technical skills with her passion for travel and service, she used color digital photography to make a difference in the world. Her work for the past four years has been a spiritual journey documenting compassionate projects worldwide, which are changing the lives of children.

In each of the last three years, Akin traveled to Varanasi, India to work at the Little Stars School. This is a totally free school which serves 450 disadvantaged children on a budget of only $3000 a month. Within the school building is a hostel for 20 orphan girls, which is the focus of Akin's current project. These photographs also show life in Varanasi, a city on the banks of the Ganges River, one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the holiest in India, having been a major cultural and religious center since about 700 BCE.

In the upstairs atrium Antioch presented the 2nd Annual gallery exhibit of embellished framed mirrors.

The Mirrors Project featured mirrors that were created by the Antioch University Seattle community, art therapy students, alumni and professional artists from the Seattle area. The mirrors embodied the theme of "Reflections of Self, Culture and Community."

All proceeds of the silent auction of these mirrors were nonprofit, and went to sending the students in the Art Therapy Program to the annual conference. Donations were tax deductible.

Also on display upstairs were artworks created by ethnic minority individuals with mental health disabilities. Through artistic observations and reflection, the project aimed to help viewers to gain a new perspective and knowledge about their understanding of cultural competencies.

Artists were Asian refugees, immigrants and Asian-Americans from various countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and the U.S., all living in the greater Seattle area. They were members of a day activity program, New Life, at Asian Counseling and Referral Service. ACRS is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization offering a broad array of human services and behavioral health programs to Asian Pacific Americans in King County.

Summer 2009

In conjunction with artwork from students enrolled in the two sections of the spring quarter History and Theory in Art Therapy class, the Antioch Community Summer Art Exhibit, displayed in the library, the student lounge and the upstairs atrium, featured diverse student, faculty and staff artwork.

Assignment and inquiry-based student projects from the History and Theory in Art Therapy class, along with the work of individual members of the Antioch community, explored the many ways line, form and surface create an integrated, fluid and viable community celebration of creativity.

The two art therapy classes were taught by Merryl E. Rothaus and Jennifer Danczyk. Rothaus's students explored their identity in how they aspired to walk in the world as art therapists using a pair of shoes as the departure point for their ongoing art pieces. Danczyk's students created artwork in response to all that they had learned about art therapy, history and theory and themselves throughout the course of the quarter.

Fall 2009

In the upstairs atrium, Antioch was pleased to present new paintings in the "Systems Theory" series by Lisa Lamoreaux, a Seattle-based painter known for her rich colors and highly textured and layered surface.

In her artist statement, Lamoreaux writes "I often go to the canvas with the end result in mind, only to discover that the relationship between the medium and brush results in more interesting and complex narratives and compositions than my subjective mind originally conceived. This process of 'getting out of the way' holds deep meaning for me as I work at staying present with the process and noticing the connections between my internal state, my environment and the manifestation of this on the canvas. Systems Theory, a model found in physics, is my primary source of inspiration, which demonstrates the interconnectedness of all things." 

On display in the Library were photographs from "Unique Perspectives: A Portrait Series of Women" by Emily Frankie. Of the series, Frankie writes, "I wanted to capture the essence of individual women utilizing different angles, settings and devices to enhance the mood of each particular portrait. This series is a celebration of women through all of their diverse qualities, encapsulated by the singular verb which titles each portrait: 'Wait.' 'Glance.' 'Embrace.' 'Challenge.' My hope is that women can find their own special perspectives mirrored in this series and realize that inner and outer beauty can be found in all shapes, sizes, mind-sets and experiences."

In a limited engagement, Antioch was pleased to present new collages by B.A. Office Manager and Assistant to the Director Jack Johnston.

The series had two starting points: a two-panel Japanese curtain, or noren, and the mirror Johnston created for the 2009 Mirrors project. In his work, he writes "I am drawn to double images and distorted reflections. Facades, veneers and surfaces that mask the impolite and the imperfect, or the too-radiant-for-this-world.

"With this series, I applied the newspaper strips on the left-hand side, and then printed over the collaged newsprint. In a few pieces I applied more marks to the solid panel. I hoped to contrast the rippling, roiling brook on the right with structural elements on the left — verticality, opacity, density."

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