Chautauqua art exhibit helps visualize theme of ‘Living with Others’

Eastern's Chautauqua series is in its 12th year showcasing diverse topics within the realm of nature; the current series is titled "Living with Others: Challenges and Promises." The newly opened art exhibit attempts to illustrate the challenge of "living with others" with photographs, sculptures and paintings.

The showcase itself constitutes a blend of modern art mixed with contemporary and traditional pieces as well as photography. With 33 artists from 20 different states contributing, a medley of styles and viewpoints of nature's interactions are evident.  

"Gallery patrons can expect a truly varied and truly national response to the Chautauqua Lecture Series' theme of living with others," said Dr. Minh Nguyen, lead coordinator of the Chautauqua series.

Of the 33 artists, four received merit awards for outstanding talent in relation to this year's Chautauqua theme.

The four art pieces that were given the award are: Eric Tomberlin's "Garden of Earthly Peace," Carrie Tomberlin's "Can You Hear Me Now?" chosen by Esther Randall, professor of art, Rebecca Drolen's "The Badgers," and Stefanie Grave's "Amigas Viejas," which was chosen by Nguyen.

One technique used to capture "Living with Others" was real-life photography, meaning the pictures were not staged. This technique especially impressed Randall, the main overseer of the Giles exhibit.

Randall's top choice was the photograph by Carrie Tomberlin called "Can You Hear Me Now?" The photo encompassed a group of individuals basking in the sun, relaxing but not interacting with one another. All the while, there is a couple at the bottom left of the picture embracing one another sharing a kiss.

 "All of these people are enjoying themselves but no one is interacting, no paths are crossing, but then you have this couple contrasting the rest of the group by engaging each other intimately, this picture really shows the broad spectrum of the human definition of living with others," Randall said.

All in all, art is meant to inspire different reactions within individuals which makes the experience of the Giles Chautauqua Art Exhibit that much more interesting and exchangeable between people.

This exchangeable factor can be felt by comparing your opinion with others attending the exhibit.

Warren Oliver, 23, English major from Campton, said he is amazed with different people's reactions to the art.

 "What really strikes me is how all the pieces frame our contemporary world in contrasting ways," Oliver said. "They have an emotional range from tender and poignant to more somber, and even disturbing."

The Chautauqua art exhibit will be on display from Jan. 23 through Feb. 17, with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Campbell Building's Giles Gallery.