Frank McEntire’s HFAC exhibit, ReAppropriated Passion, seeks to challenge BYU students and provoke religious thought through pointing out religious symbols like the crucifix in everyday objects.
Geoff Wichert, who teaches writing at Snow College, said the best religious art is work that “challenges its audience” — something he said McEntire has achieved.
“The work is of a quality and originality that demand serious contemplation,” Wichert wrote in his review, “Outside In: Frank McEntire forges an ecumenical LDS iconography.”
The HFAC gallery 303 exhibit will end today, but the first entry gallery portion has been extended for two weeks. McEntire said he is content with the effect his exhibition has had.
“I think the exhibit has served its purpose of causing people to think and having a spiritual experience through the visual arts,” McEntire said.
The relationship between Christians and Mormons inspired McEntire.
“There is so much discussion about Mormons being Christians or not being Christians,” McEntire said. “I thought it would be something interesting to explore.”
BYU students have found this exhibit provokes reflection on this subject.
“We’re instructed to focus on our similarities with the Catholic Church [and other religions],” said Adam Borgia, a visual arts major from Mesa, Ariz. “We need to remember there’s a lot of common ground we share.”
Gallery 303 was transformed into a minimalist space for McEntire’s exhibit. The few works displayed in the gallery’s open area create a solemn atmosphere for the viewer and an opportunity for reflection.
Borgia found he was able to consider his everyday relationship with Christ through the message of McEntire’s exhibit.
“The whole point of the Atonement is to make it real and personal in our everyday lives,” Borgia said. “Putting the crucifix on everyday objects applies.”
The everyday objects used with images such as the crucifix and the temple weren’t chosen at random. Many of these objects are symbolic of our relationship with Christ.
One of McEntire’s works has several doorknobs with crucifixes attached.
“I was thinking, Christ is essentially the doorway so what better to represent a doorway than a doorknob,” McEntire said. “You’re invited in and you can open the door yourself.”
To inspire personal interpretation, McEntire chose not to include the titles of his works.
“It challenges the person to dig a little deeper without the crutch of the artist’s interpretation of the materials used and the title given,” McEntire said.
McEntire’s intention is not to offend or create controversy, only to provoke thought.
“When you take a familiar object and put it in an unfamiliar setting, it lets people reflect on it otherwise,” McEntire said.
To find more information about Frank McEntire and his works, visit his Web site frankmcentire.com.
Feeds 
I read this article while contemplating the relationship between donuts and sweet deep-fried dough.
“There is so much discussion about sweet deep-fried dough being donuts or not being donuts,” I thought.
Then I said, "Here donut, this is the gate by which you should enter." (gesturing towards mouth) It was sweet unto me.
Joking aside, and to be clear, practicing members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormons, are Christians. It is Christ's name we take upon us at baptism, it is He we try to emulate, and it is in His name that that we perform all our work. I believe in Christ and His power to save me from sin and death and I'm a Mormon.