Enter a world of local magical realism as the LSU School of Art hosts its 14th Annual Summer Invitational Art Exhibition, “Into the Mystic.”
Held in the LSU School of Art Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Exhibition Gallery in the Shaw Center for the Arts, the show features work from local artists who have submitted pieces based on their interpretation of the prompted theme — mystical, magical or mysterious.
This theme was inspired by the work of Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez and classic rock artist Van Morrison’s song “Into the Mystic,” said Malia Krolak, gallery director of the LSU School of Art. Both sources of inspiration contributed to Krolak’s theory on magic within reality.
“There’s magic going on all the time if you just watch for it,” Krolak said. “So I wanted to translate that into an art show — about the magic you have in your regular life that you just have to have your eyes open to see.”
The show contains work from 52 artists who have responded to the theme. Some of which are University faculty such as Kelli Scott Kelley — who had recently shown her work in the Shaw Center for a children’s fairytale she created. Some are faculty emeritus, meaning they have retired, such as A.J. Meek, Edward Pramuk and James Burke.
However, for most of the local artists featured, being affiliated with the University was not a prerequisite. This, in contrast to the gallery’s usual educational showings of work from students, professors and visiting artists, is the only time of the year that the gallery displays work from members of the community, making it a rare spectacle.
“The ultimate goal is just to celebrate the artists that are in our community,” Krolak said. “It’s my chance to reach out to everyone and invite them in for a hug because I really do love them.”
As the participants were prompted with a theme that was open to interpretation, the mediums used to reflect the mystical, magical and mysterious were just as diverse as the artists themselves. Traditional forms of painting, sculpting and ceramics grace the walls and floors of the gallery next to pieces that involve unconventional mediums such as petrified wood, stained glass, vintage pieces of fiber, origami and doilies.
Artist Kevin Duffy, who received the Michael Crespo Award for Excellence as determined by judges Leslie Charleville and Scott Finch, broke out of traditional photography with his piece “Sister Trees” — a digitally manipulated panoramic piece shot on an iPhone.
“Kevin has been in our show for years and years,” Krolak said. “So I was really happy for him to win something and get some attention.”
Michael Crespo was the director of the School of Art when Krolak first started the show. When he died a few years ago, his widow, artist Libby Johnson decided she wanted to offer a prize in his honor for the piece that’s done well, adhered to the theme and exhibited creativity, Krolak said.
At least 300 people attended the show’s opening on Saturday. Krolak expects that by the show’s closing on August 12, at least 1,000 visitors will have explored the magic. The exhibit is closed on Mondays, but open every other day until 5 p.m. and is free to the public.
"Relics" by artist Vickie Suplee hangs in the LSU School of Art Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Exhibition Gallery in the Shaw Center for the Arts, as part of the "Into the Mystic" art show.
