The Museum of Art recently opened a brand new religious exhibit titled “Earthbound and Heavenward: The Sacred Art of Discipleship.”
The exhibit will act as a centerpiece of the museum, remaining on display until September 2028. Its myriad of artworks reflect themes of human imperfection and a continual striving for the divine.
Featured in the collection are numerous pieces in a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture and even metal and woodworking.
Maddie Blonquist, exhibit curator, described the exhibit as a reflection of “souls aspiring for something more, sometimes weighed down by the difficulties of being mortal.”
“[It captures the] feeling of being grounded and earthbound, but also that upward trajectory that we experience with wanting to be with our heavenly parents,” she said.
Blonquist explained that this is reflected in five themed sections that guide visitors through the exhibit. Namely, Of Heaven and Earth, Desire and Emulation, Called and Consecrated, Saints and Sinners and Peoples and Prophets.
The juxtaposition in each title is central to the exhibit.
“That ‘and‘ is doing a lot of heavy lifting,” Blonquist said. “I’m not saying ‘saints or sinners,’ I’m saying ‘saints and sinners’ because we are both.”
Most of the artworks in the collection are owned by BYU, and several come from former BYU art students.
One such piece, titled "Nazareth," is a bird’s eye view of what Jesus Christ’s childhood hometown may have looked like. This unique, out-of-the-box piece offers a fresh perspective on the world in which the mortal Savior lived.
The artist, Emilia Wing, explained that she has “a lot of connections to place.” Born in Poland, she has lived all over the world, including Provo where she attended BYU, and her time in Russia and Kazakhstan where she was a missionary.
Creating maps lets her link her life experience and her passion for art. Painting "Nazareth" was particularly special as she considers it a holy land where Christ “left his mark.”
“I hope [the piece] provides more evidence and more depth in understanding Him for someone else,” Wing said.
Another work from a BYU alum, Ron Richmond’s "Exchange No. 8," is a powerful symbol of the Atonement that he said is based on Isaiah 1:18 which says, "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."
The piece uses the contrast between a deep hue of crimson and a bright white to symbolize a transformation as one cloth is replaced with, or exchanged for, another.
‘“We’re exchanging one [state of being] for another,” Richmond said. “Red being a sinful state, and we’re looking forward to maybe taking on a more purified [state].”
Richmond clarified that he doesn’t want to tell people how they should feel about his work, but said it is rewarding “if [viewers] say ‘I really feel uplifted,’ or ‘I feel like I've been in that situation before.’”
BYU art alum Elise Wehle also has a piece featured in the display, a piece made entirely out of plant matter titled “Through a Corridor of Laurel.”
Wehle’s art is done almost entirely with plants, and her pieces often touch on the theme of resurrection.
She clarified that this resurrection includes the physical resurrection made possible by Christ, but also the “daily resurrection” of overcoming trials.
“Even if a tragedy happens, even if my worst fear comes true, there’s still a new beginning after that,” she said.
In ancient Greece, laurel wreaths were created to give to victors.
“That’s very much what this piece is about,” Wehle said. “Our triumph over death and over the hardships … of our lives.”
Speaking about the meticulous preparation that went into preparing the exhibit, Blonquist made it clear that she and others meditated on each piece to ensure it embodied the themes displayed.
“Every object has to do something,” she said. “[It] has to play a vital role.”
Those interested have plenty of time to appreciate “Earthbound and Heavenward” as it is a three-year display. Entry to view the display is free during the MOA hours of operation.
