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Marian Library Art Graces Greater West Dayton Incubator
By Melanie Fields
Earlier this year, Greater West Dayton Incubator manager Karlos Marshall approached the Marian Library about providing pertinent artwork for its newly opened locations off campus. The incubator, a University of Dayton project envisioned by and developed in partnership with community leaders of the Greater West Dayton area, aims to provide networking opportunities, training, education, consulting services, referrals and additional resources to startups and underrepresented firms. Wanting to connect UD’s Marianist heritage in these off-campus spaces, Marshall hoped the Marian Library might share some items with multicultural representations of Mary and Jesus.
“We are extremely excited about the partnership with the Marian Library,” Marshall says. “It was very critical to us that the aesthetic design of the incubator was culturally relevant and responsive to the community entrepreneurs that will be working in the space. This also advances part of our goals to highlight artists as entrepreneurs.”
Marian Library artwork is on display in GWDI’s 1105 W. Third St. space in the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood. Alongside these pieces will be other works from community artists including Bing Davis, whose own studio and EbonNia gallery are a few doors away.
Marshall says the Marian artworks will support the incubator’s goal of productively addressing critical issues.
“Some of the art pieces bring forward the Catholic, Marianist identity of the University in a way that can bring forward conscious dialogues about race, religion and community,” he says.
The selection of Marian Library artworks on loan are highlighted below.
— Melanie Fields is a library specialist in the Marian Library, working with artwork and special collections, writing informative articles and communicating about the Marian Library through a variety of media.
Mary Is Called a Rose without Thorns – Scotch Rose
Holly Schapker, oil on canvas, 2017
Words from the artist: The absence of thorns on the rose reminds us that a part of us is untouched by evil. The girl representing Mary is from Nigeria to show solidarity in our differences. It also shows that grace does not know borders.
Mary Is Called a Rose without Thorns – Scotch Rose
Words from the artist: The absence of thorns on the rose reminds us that a part of us is untouched by evil. The girl representing Mary is from Nigeria to show solidarity in our differences. It also shows that grace does not know borders.
Holly Schapker, oil on canvas, 2017
Mother and Child
Wiktor Szostalo, hand-sculpted metal
Mother and Child
Wiktor Szostalo, hand-sculpted metal
Jesus of the People
Janet McKenzie, print, 1999
Words from the artist: My goal was to create a painting in keeping with my work as an artist; to honor African American people and women. Jesus stands holding his robes, one hand near his heart, and looks at us – and to us. He is flanked by three symbols. The yin-yang symbol represents perfect harmony, the halo conveys Jesus’ holiness and the feather symbolizes transcendent knowledge. The essence of the work is simply that Jesus is all of us.
Jesus of the People
Words from the artist: My goal was to create a painting in keeping with my work as an artist; to honor African American people and women. Jesus stands holding his robes, one hand near his heart, and looks at us – and to us. He is flanked by three symbols. The yin-yang symbol represents perfect harmony, the halo conveys Jesus’ holiness and the feather symbolizes transcendent knowledge. The essence of the work is simply that Jesus is all of us.
Janet McKenzie, print, 1999