Story by Mary Zielke, Arts Columnist
The Holly Roberts exhibition at the Grace Hauenstein Library had a soft opening from 12-4pm on February 5th in the art gallery. Dr. Jochan Wierich was there educating and contributing to art conversations with various classes that stopped by to view Robert’s work.
Her work displayed in the art gallery of the library spans from the 1990s through 2022, which is a nice overview of the pieces throughout 30 years. There are 11 pieces total, and overall this donation was a kind contribution on Roberts’ end.
Roberts originally painted directly onto the canvases until 2005, but after that, she switched up her method and reversed the process. Instead, now she places the photographs on top of the paint. “It is definitely very abstract, and I have never seen anything like this, with real pictures, and also putting other medians with it as well,” Clementine Gadwood states.
The art is contemporary work, yet the titles are vague, leaving the pictures to talk for themselves. Roberts’ has a combination of both lighter and darker themes, yet they are able to balance each other out as a whole collection. Professor Chris Laporte comments, “It’s an invitation for your story, your memories, or your thoughts to the artwork.”
“She finds a way to combine, to integrate different paint and photography pictures… every piece to me is like a mystery,” Weirich said. The process is what seems to spark his attention, as he tries to figure out her work process, and inspires others to view her work in a new light.
Two pieces that seem to be a favorite among students are her works called, Friendly man driving and watching crows. Although the first piece was created almost 30 years after the second piece, this shows how the artist stays consistent with her original style.
Holly Roberts may be coming in the fall semester, and there are possible future opportunities to host writing events this spring. Professor Weirich asked students if they would ask a friend to come and see the gallery, and most students in each class that went to hear him speak raised their hand and said yes.
The purpose of this art gallery is to appreciate the art that Aquinas displays on campus. As Wierich said, “[To] start good conversations, and to get people engaged in the fine arts.”The gallery will have Roberts’ work up from this spring, until the end of the fall semester in 2024.
The Saint 