Art is in the eye of the beholder

I recently visited the Multicultural Gallery in Baker University Center, which is currently home to the second annual “Women of Appalachia” art exhibit. The display is a collaborative of Appalachian women who have come together to celebrate their creations, but also to provide a place of comfort and companionship to each other in a unique way. (For more background on the group, visit their Web site.)

I got to the gallery around 11 a.m. and was the only person visiting it at the time. The first thing I noticed was how open it seemed—there were two sets of doors open and, while there was a lot of art on display, the room was free of clutter and created a very inviting atmosphere.

It was neat experiencing the exhibit as the only observer. I’ve visited many galleries with friends or family, and somehow I always feel rushed to move on to the next display at the same pace as those I am with, which doesn’t allow me to take in the art as fully as I would like. My experience in the Multicultural Gallery was refreshing in that I observed at my own pace, spent more time with pieces I connected with and skipped over those that didn’t seem to speak to me artistically.

Below is a sample of the art displayed in the gallery:



While the pieces were all very different, the general feeling I got from all the art was a feeling of strength, pride and support that accompanies the camaraderie between the women behind the art.