Art Exhibition Opening Mixer

 Right now, the Restore gathering is going on in Sandy, Utah. People such as Terryl Givens, David Butler, and Patrick Mason are presenting their insights and testimonies. 

Last night, there was a free art exhibition. I was mildly interested in going, but there were a few things holding me back:

1. The distance (on a school night no less)

2. Traveling alone with a baby for that long in the car

and

3. A deep and abiding fear of intellectuals (of which there would probably be some in attendance)

So instead, we went to the library to get some books signed by local authors Frank L. Cole and Tyler Whitesides. Although I wasn't able to cross "attend a religiously-themed mixer" off my list of activities I did, going to a crowded activity where I recognized a few people sort of counted in my book.

But I still felt like I needed more introspective LDS art in my life. Luckily, just as they did 7 years ago when I wasn't able to attend the New York Mormon Arts Festival, the kids put on an art show for me! 

Without further ado, here are the exhibits they curated.

Lay up corn. Media: rice cereal, rice cereal, more rice cereal. This is a graphic representation of Joseph's food storage campaign in Egypt. The cereal is carefully placed in the shape of a scythe to remind the viewer of the proto-Marxist communitarian ideals celebrating the agrarian and the authoritarian during the Hyksos reign in Egypt.

"He shall have power to bruise his heel," ultra processed bread, watercolors. This piece reminds us of the perils of living in a fallen world, including what happens when a toddler finds paints his sister left out. Luckily, no one likes the heel.

"And upon the ... shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue (Numbers 4:7)," unleavened bread, markers

And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but [Luke] Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. Genesis 43:34, paint, table

"And God saw that it was good," printer paper, watercolors. This triptych depicts the creation process -- light and darkness, fish, water, sun, and everything else 

The next pieces of art are from a series entitled "Nor any manner of -ites" in which the chess pieces represent the warring factions of the Book of Mormon. 

Early Nephite Lamanite wars

"Ye know that ye are in our hands, yet we do not desire to slay you" (Alma 44:1)

Places of security to be built upon those towers (see Alma 50:4)

Waiting for provisions

Fallen Antipas

4th Nephi -- the chessboard represents the integration of all factions into one civilization. The latter half of the book is represented by the chess pieces on the carpet.

The Tree of Life, blokus tiles. I can't really see it but maybe you can?

"To be used in prudence and thanksgiving," plastic fruit, couch. (See D&C 89:11)

That man might be, chalk, concrete. This standalone piece depicts the genesis of man, first with Adam (shown in red) seen fallen down. The yellow lines indicate the possibilities of future joy as promised in 2 Nephi 2:25

Besides the artwork created by my kids, some scenes from nature, including our flowers and shrubbery, were also displayed in the exhibit.

This triptych (created with nitrogen, oxygen, and PM 2.5) is entitled Where the Pure Breezes Flow, from the hymn "O Ye Mountains High." This montage of photography symbolizes the hope for wind over the course of many days to clear out the wildfire smoke that a less favorable wind brought in.

And finally, the last piece in the art exhibit is simply entitled, What could I have done more for my vineyard?

that's one more flowering almond that isn't living up to the measure of its creation

I consider it a great privilege to live with such talented, thought-provoking artists. I'm looking forward to their next exhibit, especially if they clean it up themselves!