With the start of another academic year at Central Methodist University comes the new fall show at the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art, as “Autumn Rhapsody” will open on August 23 and run through November 19.
The show will feature the works of Kansas City painter Joseph Lorusso in the Yancey Gallery, while Ashby-Hodge curator Tyler Pierson will present an exhibit of his own in the Geist Gallery. In the Bingham Gallery and lobby will be “Abstractions from the Collection,” a display of several favorite abstract works of art from the Gallery’s permanent collection.
Lorusso, originally from Chicago and educated at the Kansas City Art Institute as a watercolorist, considers himself a self-taught oil painter. He grew up inspired by the works of Norman Rockwell and hoped to one day be “a famous illustrator.” His path took him in a slightly different direction – though he spent 11 years as an artist in the greeting card division at Hallmark Cards – but his art has won many awards and has been shown internationally in a number of galleries.
Lorusso says he didn’t choose pieces for the show with any theme in mind, as his experience has taught him that an audience will ultimately always have their own interpretations of the work.
“It’s taught me that there’s always something that resonates with each person, but through their own experiences,” he said. “They are putting their spin on it, and to me, that’s where [art] becomes full circle.
“[Art] is all about telling a story and making a connection, and whether it’s through mythology or storytelling, that’s how we connect as a species.”
Mythology and storytelling are also at the heart of Pierson’s exhibit, as the curator will offer audiences a look at the legacy of H.P. Lovecraft through his “Shadows of Providence: The Art of H.P. Lovecraft.” The show features an illustrated journey through 26 of Lovecraft’s stories, inviting viewers to “venture beyond the surface into the shadowed spaces where the boundary between the known and the unknowable grows perilously thin.”
“H.P. Lovecraft's stories remain relevant not because they offer comforting answers, but because they challenge us to confront the unknown,” said Pierson. “His work encourages curiosity, and we encourage you to begin your own illustrative journey into the unknown alongside the work.”
Lorusso and Pierson will both be on-hand for the show’s opening reception on August 23 at 1:30 p.m. on the first floor of Classic Hall.
The fall show will be open from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until November 19. Special tours and groups are also welcome by appointment. Contact Pierson at tpierson@centralmethodist.edu or 660-248-6304 to schedule a time.