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Archive (2005-2006)

Art show combines unusual elements

By Kelli Urry

Volcom, Roxy and Gap are brands anyone could find in stores at the University Mall, but the labels from these clothing companies are being combined to form a new art show at the Harold B. Lee Library.

?Embracing Conformity? features the artwork of BYU graduate student Audrey Tiberius. The show includes a quilt entirely made of clothing labels and 22 wire human figures symbolizing conformity.

Recent advertising in the media inspired Tiberius?s artwork because she said the media pushes uniqueness but wants people to conform and buy the same brands.

After re-working her ideas several times, she gathered hundreds of clothing tags from D.I. and decided to make a blanket.

?Labels are like blankets,? Tiberius said. ?People use them to cover themselves to hide behind them, and they use them for comfort.?

The wire human figures are filled with X-rays of human bones. She said in the end, after all the labels; we are all just the same flesh and bone human beings with nothing to hide. The show encourages people to accept their similarities.

?We all conform to certain social trends,? Tiberius said. ?We do have unique qualities but those are the icing on the cake, it?s not the cake itself,? Tiberius said.

Tiberius said our culture and religion lead us to conform.

?In Mormon society what we do most of our lives is conform, we conform to the commandments, and that is OK,? she said. ?In the scriptures God tells us, ?If ye are not one ye are not mine.? He wants us to become one, but he cared enough to make us different.?

When Tiberius decided to combine these elements into an art show, some people around her thought it was a crazy idea.

?My first reaction was: this is going to be weird,? said Jolynne Flake, Audrey?s mom.

But like any mom, she helped her daughter sew the quilt together and now appreciates the message Audrey has represented.

Since the show was part of her graduate studies, Tiberius had to have the artwork approved by a committee of professors. Bruce Smith, a retired BYU professor, was chair of the graduate committee which oversaw Tiberius?s work and originally rejected her idea. However, since seeing the show his mind has changed.

?It?s a very successful show,? Smith said. ?It evolved into a significant work because of her tenacity in sticking with what she wanted,? Smith said.

Tiberius said she normally would have followed the advice of the committee and tried a new idea, but she learned a lot from following through with her own thoughts.

?Embracing Conformity? isn?t Audrey?s first show. She has exhibited her work in Australia, Puerto Rico and other galleries in Utah. Tiberius will receive a master of fine of arts from BYU and would like to teach on the university level and be a professional artist on the side.

The show is currently on display on the first floor of the Harold B. Library in the auditorium gallery.