Every sketch, every stroke, every stitch, every snapshot—they all tell a story, a story of truth, faith, love, self-awareness and community.
“Sharing our Creative Spirits” is the first of four art exhibits featured this year as part of the Art on the Wall program located in the Kanata Centre for Worship and Global Song in the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.
A curated walk through the hallway of the Seminary tells the stories of the faculty and staff who work there, as they explore faith and justice through visual art.
“All we get to see is the administrative and teaching side of staff and faculty. We don’t see what they are doing in their free time… and what they are good at in terms of creativity”, says Shwetha Subramanya, financial coordinator and organizer of the installation.
“This was just a small attempt to bring out their creative side and share with the whole community.”
Upon entering the installation, the atmosphere was very humbling. Looking down a quiet corridor, a wall of glass windows lines one side of the perimeter overlooking the Seminary terrace, filling the room with natural light. On the other side stands a simple orange brick wall decorated with art of varying mediums—all of which reflect varying values, cultures and racialized communities.
No two pieces were alike, nor fall under a unifying theme.
One piece called, “Snap, Crackle, and Pop,” by Mona Tokarek LaFosse, assistant professor of Christian scriptures and sacred texts, featured three adorably knitted dolls, which are being created to be sent overseas and be given to refugee children living in camps.
“Art is important because it invites us to discover a different part of ourselves and allows me a fuller expression of who I am as a person,” said LaFosse.
Other pieces reflect certain narratives the artists wish to communicate to their audience. “Lily by the River,” created by Dorinda Kruger Allen, executive assistant to the principal dean, is a form of beadwork that echoes the theme of moccasin vamps which was created in honor of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
“To be very honest I was overwhelmed with joy. I didn’t think I would receive such a big response”, said Subramanya. What was expected to be only a small project, turned into a successfully executed art gallery.
“Sharing Our Creative Sprirts” will be on display in the Kanata Centre of Worship and Global Song, at the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary from September 7 through to September 29.
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