According to Sioux Center Artist Jo Alberda, art is a vital and integral part of the Kingdom of Christ.
“It’s a way we express our faith,” she said. “We make images that express the things we believe.”
Albera’s exhibit, Tales from Heaven and Earth, premiered this past Monday, Oct. 28, in the Te Paske Gallery of the Korver Visual Arts Center. Alberda uses hand-dyed fabrics, stitching and a variety of line and shape applications to present a beautiful collection.
Alberda’s exhibit, as the title suggests, is presented in two parts: “Heaven” and “Earth.” Each part is done in its own style and contains a variety of works.
The inspirations for “Heaven” and “Earth” were also different. “Earth” was prompted by images from Virginia City, a well-preserved ghost town in Montana. Photographs of old and decaying wood from the empty city inspired Alberda to create a set of pieces that are organic and based in simple patterns and color schemes.
Apollo Astronaut James B. Irwin’s famous observation that from space, the Earth takes on the appearance of a little blue marble inspired Alberda to create “Heaven.”
“I just thought that was a neat way of looking at it,” Alberda said. “I’ve been working with the circular form for a few years now and was inspired.”
This circular form is present in Alberda’s “Heaven;” each piece appears to be a planet viewed from space.
Contained within “Heaven” is a smaller set of pieces Alberda has titled “In the Beginning.” These works are derived from the creation account in Genesis 1. Each of the seven works takes on a different day of creation while still maintaining Alberda’s work on the circular form. These works were inspired by her visit to a monastery and the newly transcribed and illustrated Saint John’s Bible.
Alberda said beauty is an important part of her work.
“A lot of modern art looks on beauty as superficial, but I don’t think that’s true. God has made a lot of beautiful things and filled the world with them. If you believe God created the world and you look around, you will see God there,” Alberda said.
Tales from Heaven and Earth will close on Nov. 15. A public reception for Alberda’s show will be held at 7 p.m. tonight, Nov. 1.
PHOTO BY DAVID LI: Freshman Alissa Sinclair views a row of Jo Albera’s embroidered fabric pieces from her “Heaven” collection.
