The Purdue University North Central Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series presents the exhibit “An Unlikely Hero” featuring the work of artist Kenrick McFarlane through Dec. 13 in the first floor, north study area of the PNC Technology Building. It is free and open to the public.
Building hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. during the school semester; otherwise the building is closed on Sunday.
McFarlane is a Jamaican-American artist living and working in Chicago. A student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he expects to earn his BFA in 2015. His work has been shown in galleries and shows throughout Chicago, as well as in Pittsburgh and in Jamaica. His art has been featured in several publications and he has earned honors and awards for his work.
McFarlane explained that this piece of art was inspired by his older brother and Thomas Couture, an influential 19th century French history painter, teacher and mentor for Edouard Manet, a painter who inspired the first impressionists known as “the father of modern art.”
McFarlane’s brother posted a painting on the computer the two shared. Intrigued, McFarlane asked his brother where he found it and why he liked it. The brother said he came across the painting while browsing online and felt a connection to it. McFarlane investigated and found the painting was done by Couture.
“Although this incident was years ago, it suddenly returned to me as I was developing ideas for the next painting,” McFarlane recalled. “In this painting I attempted to appropriate visual devices and aesthetics from classical painting, but also compose a scene that may be somewhat familiar to my generation.”
McFarlane feels, “My art practice is all about having fun, following my excitement and creating in the present moment. Creating art is a way for me to enjoy the excitement, ask the questions and dig deeper into the ideas that I have. I hope to create works that can reach my audience on a human level. I hope that my work gives off joy, hope, and also brings up questions for my audience. I believe that great works of art have lives of their own. My ambition is to simply be honest with myself and to try to be more of myself every day.”
For information about this exhibit or the Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series, contact Judy Jacobi, PNC assistant vice chancellor of Marketing and Campus Relations, at 785-5200, ext. 5593. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Jacobi.