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The Prints of Benjamin Miller

By Fr. Johann Roten, S.M.

The Benjamin Miller wood cut exhibit, open now and through the summer, will be a progressive display adding new prints in the weeks to come. This will be an opportunity to concentrate on specific aspects of Miller's art, highlighting the wide range of his thematic interest and the depth of his artistic sensitivity.

Miller's woodcut prints are both marked by and are typical examples of expressionist art. Traveling from Cincinnati to France and other European countries in the early 1920s, he discovered the post-World War I artistic scene and was marked by its retrieval of woodcut printing.

Early expressionist art was strongly influenced by biblical themes, especially by the tragic and heroic figures of the Old and New Testaments. One of these figures is Samson, the Nazarite, a man of immense strength. He is betrayed by his love Delilah. His hair is cut, he loses his strength, and is made prisoner by the Philistines. They take him to their temple of Dagon. Samson prays to God, recovers his strength, and tears the columns of the temple down, killing himself and all the Philistines. Some Christian traditions view Samson as a type of Jesus. Miller's sculptural Samson vividly expresses ferocious determination and a heroic sense of self-sacrifice.

Visit the Marian Library gallery to see Miller's Samson Destroying the Temple as well as other classic Old Testament representations of expressionist art such as the popular stories of Susanna and Rebecca, two women known for their steadfast faith and rich blessing from God. New Testament-inspired pieces such as The Annunciation and St. Francis and the Birds are on display as well. Come back several times over the summer to watch the exhibit expand with additional themes and works of Benjamin Miller.

HOW TO GO:

The Prints of Benjamin Miller
May 1–July 27, 2018

Marian Library Gallery, 7th floor of Roesch Library
Open Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 

For special arrangements, please call 937-229-4214.

Complimentary visitor parking passes can be obtained at the visitor parking information center

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