Josh Kwak and Nick Black host their senior art shows
“She Is” and “Breathe” are two of the senior art shows currently displayed on West Campus.
Nick Black is a senior graphic design major and orchestrator of his senior show, “She Is.” Black’s art showcases the lives and influences of inspiring women in leadership, both on and off campus, as well as challenges the way gender pronouns are used in specific situations.
Black’s show is hosted in the Darling Hallway Art Gallery behind Darling Library and contains portraits of influential women, surrounded by Bible verses and phrases encompassing the “She Is” theme. Two of the featured women are celebrity figures, and two are members of the APU community. One of the women featured in Black’s show is Samantha Aguirre, a Residential Director in University Village that got to know him during Walkabout, a training session for residential advisors. In hearing the phrase “She Is…” Aguirre finds empowerment.
“I think it is [a phrase] of empowerment as well as bearing the image of God,” Aguirre said.
“She Is” opening display. Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Burlingame
One of the exhibits at Black’s show questions the way male gender pronouns are used to identify God.
“My goal was to create conversation,” Black said. “You can’t be comfortable and be challenged; you have to be one or the other.”
Josh Kwak, a senior visual art major with an interdisciplinary concentration, has been thinking about his show, “Breathe,” for the last two years. “Breathe” is located on West Campus in the Exit Gallery behind Darling Library.
“I knew I wanted it to be Asian themed,” Kwak said. “[And] in the last few months I noticed that the work I was doing and the feeling it was producing was an alleviation of stress.”
Kwak wanted to make sure that his show is a place where everyone feels welcome and can take a breath of fresh air.
“I struggle with anxiety and depression myself, so I wanted to create a space that was open to all people,” Kwak said. “I decided on the title ‘Breathe’ so I can feel like my art is helping people.”
“Breathe” is focused on a variety of wooden lanterns that cast shadows on the walls and glow in the dark once the lights are turned off.
“When I first created the lanterns, I didn’t create them for the shadows, but my classmates told me that the shadows were a big part of it and one of their favorite things,” Kwak said. “I wanted to create something that people, even if they’re not artists, can feel like they’re part of the experience.”
One of the lantern displays in “Breathe.” Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Burlingame
Geometric windows are a large part of Asian architecture. Kwak decided that he wanted to research and reflect on his Asian identity and find something that is symbolic of that. So he created silicone pendants that have geometric shapes on them. “I wanted to create something that everyone could use and have, so I decided to make [the pendants] into a jewelry piece.”
Black is selling shirts and stickers. Visit “She Is” to find out more information. Kwak is hosting an Instagram competition until the end of his show. For this competition, go to “Breathe,” take a photo with the artwork, tag @jshink_art, mark the location at “Exit Gallery,” and make sure you hashtag #breathe. Winners will be chosen at the end of the show.
“She Is,” and “Breathe” will be on display until Friday, April 13.