Meter

This seat is painted along with the gallery's religious exhibit. [Click to enlarge]

The walls of the TSU art gallery are covered in inspirational artwork. [Click to enlarge]

The Tennessee State University Hiram Van Gordon Memorial Gallery is now hosting Church, Inc. Contemporary Religious Visions, an art exhibit exploring the meanings of Christianity in today’s society.

Church, Inc. includes paintings, sculptures, crafts and other art forms dealing with issues that surround the religious motives of today’s pastors, church members and clergymen. 

“A lot of the pieces speak to the questioning of religion,” said Anthony Whitfield, a senior from Alexandria, Va. majoring in art.  “The pieces deal with identity versus religion, or what religion is as it pertains to our lives.”

One idea explored by the exhibit’s artwork is that of the commercial quandary of the 21st century church, and the merger of the church and other worldly elements. 

Pieces in Church, Inc. address the issue that some church members believe modern churches and their financial practices have become more like biblical businesses aimed at building stadium-style seating rather than saving lives.

“This (exhibit) is heavy duty,” said Julia Hedgepath, a junior from Nashville majoring in art.  “Its making my brain hurt.”

Along with the many colorful paintings and collages featuring men and women wailing praises to heaven, some original pieces of art include painted bottles with words to religious hymns, a dangling blue arm painted with biblical scriptures and decorated altars and pews.

“The exhibit gives you a lot to think about with the words and language in the art,” said Jerry Waters, Van Gordon Gallery curator. “For those who can’t read images, the words help them understand what the artist might be trying to say.”

The artists featured in the exhibit are members of an artist collective group called NIA. NIA, meaning with purpose in Swahili, is currently composed of eight artists based in Memphis. Waters saw some of the work of artist Vitus Shell and wanted to bring his work, as well as the work of his colleagues to the gallery.

The group assembled in May and decided on the theme for the art show and began creating their pieces accordingly. Through Church, Inc. the group wanted to artistically explain the blur between commerce and Christianity. 

“Students can relate to the exhibit because the artists are young,” Waters said. “Students know the artists are close to their age and are questioning the same issues that they themselves question every day.”  

Church Inc. also includes work from artists Benin Ford, Jared Small, Lester Merriweather, Anthony D. Lee, Edwin McSwine and Frank D. Robinson, Jr.

Some of the artists studied at institutions like the Chicago Institute of Art and the University of Memphis before joining NIA.

“The purpose of NIA is to enrich the cultural condition of the greater Memphis community through the support and cultivation of the practice of Black visual arts,” Ford said.

The exhibit began with an artist reception held in the Van Gordon Gallery on Thursday, Sept. 9, and is expected to continue through Oct. 15.  With its controversial subject matter, the Church, Inc. exhibit offers students the opportunity to enjoy fine art and exercise their beliefs, values and opinions.

“There are a lot of great pieces,” said Orlando Covington, a freshman from Nashville majoring in business administration.  “It looks like it took a lot of time and effort into putting the exhibit together.  It is very inspirational.”•

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