"The Art of Creation" exhibit in BYU’s Education in Zion Gallery opened Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m. to change people's understanding of creativity.
The new exhibition challenges the assumption that creativity is a skill, something one either has or does not have — inviting visitors to see creation as an essential part of human life.
The display occupies one of the gallery’s rotating spaces and explores creativity through design, process and spiritual reflection.
The exhibition encourages visitors to think broadly about what it means to create, according to gallery specialist McKayla Whittle.
“It’s just about creation … about different types of styles and designs and how creation can be in every aspect of our lives,” she said.
Whittle, who has worked at the gallery for about a year and a half, said temporary exhibitions like this one rotate every one to two years, offering visitors new experiences even if they have visited before.
“I would just encourage them to come to this gallery as often as they can,” she said. “Even if you’ve been here before, there’s always different exhibitions and different impressions that you can receive.”
Whittle explained that one section of the exhibition stood out to her: a wall referencing God resting after the Creation.
“It talks about how God rested after the creation, and how we can find moments of rejuvenation,” she said. “Something that I was just pondering on is how creation can be an active rest for us.”
Whittle connected that idea to the gallery’s craft nights, where students create while taking a break from academic stress.
“I think that is a period of rest for students,” Whittle said. “They’re so busy with schoolwork, but then they take time out of their days to come and do a craft and to realize that creativity is so important to having a well-rounded lifestyle.”
The exhibition was designed by Mylee Dockter, a BYU Fine Arts major who has worked with the gallery for the past two years on smaller student exhibitions.
Dockter said she was invited to take on the large-scale project after the previous exhibition rotated out.
“I was super excited, because I felt like she put some trust in me to do something like this … more permanent exhibition space,” she said.
Dockter said she enjoys working on a large scale and was drawn to the challenge, even though it felt intimidating at first.
“I’ve always known that I wanted to do something creatively … whether it was exhibitions or museum spaces or even just my own art exhibitions,” she said. “I just love being able to show people my work.”
Dockter designed and created the artwork for the exhibition, collaborating closely with gallery curator Heather Seferovich throughout the process.
“My favorite part is definitely the little paint streaks … the paint brushes in the jar,” Dockter said. “All of the paint splots were super fun to make.”
She said her hope is that visitors leave with a broader understanding of creativity.
“Being creative is an innate part of all of us,” Dockter said. “A lot of times people say, ‘I don’t have a creative bone in my body,’ and I just don’t believe that’s true.”
Dockter emphasized that creation can take many forms.
“Whether you’re organizing an event, serving people or even making a workout plan — all of these things involve creation,” she said. “We all have our own gifts and talents, and it’s important to recognize that and share those with the world.”
Gallery curator Seferovich said the theme was chosen because of its relevance across disciplines.
“This one came about because it was broadly applicable, and we could talk about it through the lens of the four aims of BYU,” Seferovich said. “There are entry points for just about every discipline, because everything is, in a sense, creative.”
Seferovich also emphasized the spiritual dimension of creation from a Latter-day Saint perspective.
“As Latter-day Saints, we believe that we co-create with God,” she said. “That means we have to connect with Him and tap into that spirit of creation … and that’s what can make all of our creations so powerful.”
Seferovich said Dockter was well suited for the project.
“She was capable, she had talent and she was willing,” Seferovich said. “And she did a fantastic job.”
As part of the exhibition opening, the gallery hosted an expanded craft night, inviting visitors to participate in pipe cleaner art.
“I think that creative energy just invigorates us,” Seferovich said. “It builds the light in us as we play and create.”
The Education in Zion Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays. Craft nights are held weekly on Wednesday evenings.