Kent Bellows — does the name ring a bell? Visiting an art gallery may seem like a completely different world for those who are hardcore scientists or mathematicians. With the help of a handy brochure, the colors, passion and beauty behind every unique piece can give students the respite they need from the facts and figures their textbooks drown them in.
Born in Blair, Neb., Bellows first began working as a science fiction illustrator in the 1970s. As he developed his art over the years, he became well-known for the powerful backstories behind each of his detailed drawings and paintings.
Although Bellows passed away on Sept. 14, 2005, his memory lives on through the Kent Bellows Studio and Center for Visual Arts.
“The Kent Bellows program is an after-school program where professional artists mentor a few high school students a couple of days a week,” Doug Schroder of Creighton’s Lied Art Gallery said.
Continuing until April 4 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily, The Kent Bellows Studio and Center for Visual Arts presents “Archipelago.” The exhibit is a culmination of the works of 11 professional artists with the pieces ranging from sculptures to paintings to unique wood and metal creations. Many of the mentors are Creighton alumni and have dedicated themselves to helping youth develop their creativity while furthering their own abilities.
“Art is the perfect emotional outlet for youth because it speaks for them when they are unable to find their words,” said Kent Bellows Program artist mentor Pam Hinson in her artist statement.
One of the most memorable installations was Jamie Danielle Hardy’s “Dumptruck breakdown.” At first glance the piece is a towering installation with printed images of trucks on wooden blocks stacked on top of each other. However, through Hardy’s explanation, we begin to appreciate not just the technical prowess it must have taken to print the images onto hand built frames but also the story behind the piece.
“This work is my attempt to bring closure to a near death experience that occurred when I was 17. I am confronting the dump truck that nearly took my life head on and nearly to scale,” Hardy said in the brochure.
Most people are able to relate to the stories found in art like Hardy’s.
Many people may assume art is just people making random strokes and dots on a piece of paper as an attempt to seem cool and mysterious. Inspired by the master storyteller Kent Bellows, the meaning behind every hammered wood creation, molded piece and blended colors is a deliberate move by these mentors as a way to share their lives with others.