1. Curator Notes by Douglas Welsh
“Journey of love, life, and return to the quiet place”
A gallery show presented by the Kappa Theta Phi Fraternity
1401 Leigh Street, Richmond, Virginia
Friday, February 14, 2014
Thank you for coming to the Kappa Theta Phi Gallery show, “Journey
of love, life, and return to the quiet place.” Take your time, enjoy the art and
take a moment to talk with the artists and find out more about them. You
will be hearing more over the years from these talented creators! As
curator, I have chosen to interpret the pieces in a very specific way that
makes sense to me. You may wish not to know more at this time, other
than the title, and to create your own impressions. If so, begin your journey
now. For those interested in my thoughts, I offer them below:
The show as I see it is an expression of our existence on many levels:
compassion and patience, creativity, celebration, fragility, struggle and
passion, a representation of our universe and finally a place of our spiritual
rest.
As you enter the gallery, the mother and father of artist Noelle Choy
greet you. As parents, their love is one of patience and waiting, as they
have given up certain things to be able to be present for their daughter.
They are greeting and recording the event. Their unseen sculpture, as real
as those here, of expectation, hospitality and pride, extends over the entire
event. Behind them is a blind created by Aaron Koehn. The gold blind
serves as a celebratory backdrop which gives the parents a spatial
foundation and creates expectation of what is to come. The blind is an
important part of our everyday life experience serving to grant privacy, to
control light, to enable us to see out and others not to see in. Its gold color
celebrates its role in our journey.

2. As you enter the gallery, and look to the center, you will see two
Orbs. This is where the show begins and ends.
One sphere is the “Orb of the Universe,” by Noa Glazer, created
from elements and living material-----aluminum, glass, camel’s milk. It is an
artistic realization of the big bang and the cosmic event’s amazing
outcome. Camel’s milk is an apt part of this beautiful rendering. The camel
being an ancient partner to life, offers strength, companionship, endurance,
transportation, and skill in navigating difficult terrain. The orb glistens,
reflects and magnifies on its own, just as the universe does. Notice as you
come close that through your reflection, you and others become part of the
sculpture as does the room behind you. It is truly a living sculpture.
Next to this orb of the universe is the “Orb of Rest,” by Tal Gafny.
Meister Eckhart, famous 12th
century mystic preacher, wrote that the souls
of mankind fly right past God and the Holy Spirit into the “Quiet Place.” I
see this dark sphere as a piece so rich, and so dark, as to be able to
accept those souls and ours forever. This makes this sculpture rather
significant indeed.
As indicated earlier, both of the pieces, placed in the center of the
show, are intended to be both the beginning and ending of the spectator
journey. They are to remain, with the help of the owning artists and their
ancestors, together, forever. I am recommending a special case be built
for the two orbs, so they can be safely stored and transported together in
one case.
Now, turning and looking toward the street is Julie Groesche’s
impressive “collective relation” sculpture. It dramatically represents the
complexity of the human body and a desire to protect it. But protection also
includes the balance of all of our parts, and communication as well. It is
truly a “collective relation.” The fluorescent green on the body athletic wear
is a reminder of our hopes for safety and overall wellbeing. But, as we
know, the human condition is a moment –to-moment affair and requires
that all of our parts communicate and stay whole.

3. Moving to the right we come to the spot of the unexpected. Life is all
the more fascinating as we learn in time how both strong and fragile we
are. Roxanne Yamin’s fascinating found poster draws the viewer into a
situation which appears normal, but could be dangerous. Our laws and
desire for security are elements of experience and wisdom, a gesture of
hope for the welfare of others. The poster announces our part in this
endeavor for safety, as well.
Looking below we come to a video sculpture dealing with celebration.
The video of dancing was created by Adam Colignon. It is a fascinating
sculpture of dance utilizing a type of visual layering where he dances with
himself. Those who know Adam are aware of his physical strength, happy
demeanor and good will, but few, probably were aware of his love of dance.
As with any dance, there is a tension of what is to come. The changes are
often unexpected and exciting. And as you will see, Adam becomes more
and more comfortable, discovering his own creativity, which may in fact, as
for many artists, come from an unknown place.
Turning now and looking to the corner, you will see Jihyung Yoon’s
fascinating sculpture of unexpected materials, “Longing for Balance,”
which is both stationary and potentially rhythmic, and represents an uneasy
test of youthful identity. One’s imagination can run wild viewing this piece.
The use of a 1950’s style chrome support, on top of which Yoon places a
carefully balanced, but massive organic sculpture, creates a tension on
how it will all work, or perhaps not. In the end, the sculpture is present and
imposing, but leaves the viewer no final resolution or peace. It is powerful
thought and longing in process. It is the prelude to an exciting future for
Jihyung as we anticipate what is to come, and what will be his savored and
most present artistic feature. We will certainly find out in his future
creations!
Immediately to the right Michael Hunter’s impressive untitled drawing
imagines a figure of passion, part human, part animal, and part alien. It
represents the unknown part of us that we may not be fully in control of. As
one approaches the piece, one is not sure if there is an image or if it is just
an abstract blending of lines on a dark surface. Often, those afar look just

4. like everyone else. Coming closer, more is revealed. Likewise, the drawing
represents the unknown of each of us, the parts we discover, sometimes
uncomfortably, in our dreams or later in life. It is what makes our journey
rich and full of surprises.
Looking to your right, a playful, but powerfully thoughtful video is also
offered by Morgan Pearse, “Colliding Tech In The Universe.” Images of
defibrillators with their paddles filling the entire space, crashing into each
other in ever alternating patterns, creates a visual, mesmerizing effect. One
only realizes later, the seriousness of the image and how this technology
helps to rescue one from death in about the time the viewer has invested in
considering the video itself. The video poses interesting choices for the
viewer as to what in life in valuable. These diversionary images of motion
and collision can almost become addictive, much like our consumer driven
life. But notice, if you watch long enough, the universe engulfs it from
behind. The dark unknown remains the constant behind the addiction, and
is the travel space to the quiet place.
The show now ends where it began, in the center. Take moment to
turn full circle and wonder at the amazing creativity and insight of some of
VCU’s great artists, making their journey of love and living on the way to
the quiet place.