After graduation, art majors face a mountain of fear and uncertainty. They express themselves through the medium they know best, but that same passion may not put food on the table. To calm the nerves of current art students and prove there is success in art, two University art graduates have teamed up with the Glassell Gallery for an art exhibit called “Lineage.”
K. Malia Krolak, director of the Glassell Gallery, tries to hold a “Lineage” event every three years to inspire new batches of art students. The event asks University graduates to create pieces of art and speak to current University students about their struggles and successes in the art world.
“It’s difficult to succeed as an artist, so we bring back graduates that prove being an artist can be a rewarding experience,” Krolak said.
For every installment, “Lineage” revolves around a certain theme — this year’s pieces focus on the word “resilience.” Krolak said she believes artists and former students Christopher Brumfield and Raina Benoit have created works that embody their views of resilience and its place in the world.
Brumfield graduated from LSU in 1997 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. More than two months ago, as he began working on pieces for the “Lineage” show, he said he was attacked in the St. Roch neighborhood in New Orleans by a dozen teenagers. Brumfield said the police ignored his claims until he made a Facebook post that went viral, garnering news attention.
“I made a whole new show after that incident,” Brumfield said. “My resilience is about being vulnerable and reflective and turning it into art.”
Benoit and Krolak discussed holding a show for Benoit’s work, but the Glassell Gallery was booked so far in advance that they couldn’t find a time to display her pieces. When Krolak decided to hold another
“Lineage,” she thought Benoit and Brumfield’s work would go well together.
The event is focused on inspiring current art students to hold onto their aspirations, but Krolak said she promises “Lineage” will influence everyone who sees it.
“‘Lineage’ is an idea that has been going on for a millennia,” Krolak said. “People share ideas and work together to pass their knowledge.”
Krolak said she wants to use tonight’s opening reception to break the assumption many have about the art world. She said people assume galleries are “stuffy” or “formal,” but the Glassell Gallery is inclusive and designed to provoke an emotion.
“The show represents the lineage of LSU artists and how students can connect to these professionals who were once in their shoes,” Krolak said.
You can reach Joshua Jackson on Twitter @Joshua_Jackson_.