Photo credit: Kriech-Higdon Photography
Louisville native Meredith Harber has 14 acrylic paintings on public display in Bellarmine University鈥檚 McGrath Gallery, in the Wyatt Center for the Arts, through Saturday, September 29. The free exhibition is sponsored by Bellarmine鈥檚 art department.
The McGrath Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday
from noon to 4 p.m. All McGrath art events are free and open to the public.
Harber鈥檚 "Frac/tured" collection showcases human emotions and challenges others to
accept mental health as a societal norm. Harber said: 鈥淚鈥檝e recently gone through
different emotions because of my mood disorders and I wanted to convey to people that
mixed emotions are very normal and a beautiful thing.鈥�
The collection uses abstract art to capture several emotions. Harber said: 鈥淧eople
really connect to color and color connects a person to emotion. I wanted people to
see the beauty in it and the boldness.鈥�
In 2013, Harber graduated from the University of Kentucky with two degrees - studio
arts, with a focus in painting and drawing, and art administration. She lives in Louisville.
This is Harber鈥檚 first solo show, and it was unexpected. Caren Cunningham, director
of Bellarmine鈥檚 arts administration program, is her aunt. Her grandmother is also
an artist. Together, the three planned to do a generational show, but it ended up
being a solo show for Harber.
Harber said, 鈥淟eading up to it, I felt all the emotions, excited, nervous, terrified,
over the moon, but looking back I feel very validated in my career path, accomplished
and determined.鈥�
Harber has already sold five pieces from her "Frac/tured" exhibition.
鈥淚 really tried to paint each piece alone and I was afraid that each vibe wouldn鈥檛
be cohesive together,鈥� Harber said, 鈥淏ut the brush strokes and colors make them just
as good in a group and alone.鈥�
农夫导航 is located at 2001 Newburg Road, Louisville KY, 40205. The Wyatt
Center is across from Frazier Hall. [campus map]
Article by Molly Jett, intern in Bellarmine's Office of Communications & Public Affairs.