IGNITE comes to the Robert E. Wilson Gallery
FOR RELEASE: Monday, October 22, 2001
Huntington, Ind. "The Robert E. Wilson Gallery of the Merillat Centre for the Arts at Huntington College hosts IGNITE, a North American exhibition of works by emerging artists contending for or with Christian faith. The exhibition will be displayed from November 1 "20, 2001. Admission is free and the gallery is open to the public weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and before all Merillat Centre performances. Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA), a national organization for Christians working in all areas and styles of visual arts, proudly presents IGNITE, a show of 37 works by 27 artists between the ages of 20 and 35. Works span a variety of media including Graphite, Colored Pencil, Conte, Acrylics, Oil Paint, Monoprints, Lithographs, Photography, Steel, Wood, and Mixed Media. Figurative works to abstraction are represented in this show as well as Biblically based subject matter to no apparent subject matter. The common denominator for the show is either a Christian worldview or an interest in themes that surround the Christian traditions.
The purpose of IGNITE is to provide emerging artists, contending for or with Christian faith, the forum to create and present their best work in a traveling, national exhibition. IGNITE grew from a need to give greater exposure to artists early in their careers. Too often unknown but valuable work receives little or no exposure due to the barriers of entry that exist in launching one's art career. A need has long been identified within CIVA's national network of artists and arts-related professionals to create exhibition opportunities for developing artists.
The show first opened in September 1999, and the 37 works were selected among 327 entries. Scott Canty, a Curator at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, was selected to curate IGNITE because of his experience working with widely diverse groups of emerging artists within the Los Angeles area.
I applaud CIVA for organizing this type of exhibition, said Canty. This exhibition consists of young artists across North America, from London, Ontario in Canada to Winona Lake, Indiana and from Seward, Nebraska, to Hawaiian Gardens, California. It is a wonderful opportunity for young artists to express their faith to others. The work is delightfully expressed personal narratives as well as those about others, and all with a foundation of Christian faith.
As Christian artists, it is our mission to keep our fire ignited, continued Canty, blazing truth and fanning its flames to keep Christianity alive in the arts. IGNITE does just that: it inspires and sets ablaze a desire in our hearts to strive to make our lives count for something more.
For further information about exhibits at the Robert E. Wilson Gallery, contact Huntington College art professor Rebecca Coffman at (260) 359-4272.
