By Ricardo Castro
A blue background is overcast with white and red shadows with brown rimming a small part of the bottom. A variety of small and diverse colorful shapes are all around it. “Order” is one piece of art in “Proclaim,” a new art show at BYU.
“Proclaim,” a representation of beliefs on family is the new abstract series by recent BYU fine arts graduate, Rachel Mary Smith
The exhibit will be on display in the first floor auditorium gallery of the Harold B. Lee Library through Nov. 7.
Smith”s display relates her personal belief on family roles.
“It is my belief that as members of this family, we have a Father who knows each of us personally,” Smith said. “No matter how our beliefs concerning God may differ, we each have an eternal role and destiny.”
Smith started painting different shapes that represented members of a family to her. Then, she decided to draw the relationships that those shapes had together and how they interact in a family.
“I did not want to impose my ideas on anyone, but I want to express those,” Smith said. “I figured out that my paintings were one of the best ways I could express my feelings of the importance of family and what my values are.”
“Proclaim” displays 13 different pieces, each representing one of the artist”s family values.
Brenna Stewart, a junior from Carey, Idaho, said the series displays in a creative way the beauty and joy of eternal families.
“A piece that particularly caught my eye was ”Guardian,”” Stewart said.” I felt that this piece exuded a feeling of protection and security, as its name implies.”
She said her favorite thing about Smith is each of her series is different than the others, but it still keeps true to her characteristic style.
Smith”s series also relates to motherhood, which Erik Harker, a senior majoring in art history, said is something that fits in Utah culture.
“”Order” is my personal favorite of this exhibition,” Harker said. “The colors are soothing and tightly curated for a very naturalistic wholeness.”
He said “Proclaim” is beautiful and full of energy.
“While pushing boundaries with its abstraction, it leaves the average viewers at ease with themselves,” Harker said.
There will be a closing ceremony from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m on Nov 7.
The mission of the art in the library exhibitions is to create a cultural center to promote intellectual and creative activities through the visual art.
