Exploring the Intersection of Art, Faith and the Human experience


He Was, I Am

Artist Talks from He Was, I Am

He Was, I Am is a collaborative exhibition by Matthew and Gwyneth Kiehl. In it they explore a response to both the life and legacy of loved ones, and the example and teachings of Jesus during his life on earth. Coming at the topic from different angles and artistic mediums, both ask the questions, “He was, I am: What am I doing with this example? How do I respond?” In this, other questions arise. Are we using our time well? Are the arts worthwhile? What role do the arts play in “doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God?” We invite you to come alongside us and explore these questions in a contemplative space between the bitter and the beautiful.

If you missed the opening reception you can listen to the Artist Talk by clicking on the following links.

Introduction:

Introduction

Gwyneth Kiehl

Matthew Kiehl

Question and Answer Session

 

He Is, Am

He Was, I Am 2

About The Artists: Gwyneth and Matthew Kiehl are emerging artists who both graduated from Messiah College in 2009 with BAs in Studio Art (Two-Dimensional Studies Concentration). They have exhibited their work in various locations throughout upstate NY, central PA, and Northern VA. From 2011 to 2014 Matthew had a studio at the Workhouse Arts Center (Lorton, VA). Gwyneth recently joined the Printmakers Guild at George Mason University. They married in 2010 and reside in Alexandria, VA.

Gwyneth uses non-traditional printmaking methods and takes imagery from her grandfather’s photographs to explore the nature of family connection, memory & memory loss, and death. As she says of her art, “My work is a way to celebrate and honor my grandparents and the work they did, to grapple with parts of my identity wrapped up in them, and to explore my roots. My prints also serve as a humbling & sobering reminder of our mortality, the shortness of our lives in the grand scheme of things, the unreliability and inconsistency of memory and how most of what we do will be forgotten, and how fleeting, yet precious, our time here is.”

Matthew experiments with Pen & Ink as a form of self-conditioning, spiritual practice, or prayer, in an intentionally labor-intensive process, method and style. Through his work he explores three aspects of our human condition—the permanency of our actions (through placement of ink onto paper); our finiteness (through the ephemeral life of paper); and our autonomy/loneliness (through the use of individual marks or “characters” within a drawing). His craft he sees as a tool for understanding the confluence of these three sublimes, a way to strive to develop character (a mature response to the three sublimes). The Christian virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love, he believes, lose all seriousness if not viewed from this sublime perspective. He says, “I find that the Character of Christ is the most beautiful thing that exists, and so I seek to explore it, understand it, and emulate it as best I can.” He uses his art as a tool for this exploration, hoping not only to create beauty but to invite in an attitude of compassion, forgiveness, and justice. “Ultimately it is a craft of love and empathy.”

 




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