Brian Kershisnik is one of my favorite thoughtful local artists.  Reproductions of several of his pieces hang in our home.  I went with a group of neighbor ladies to his show at the BYU Museum of Art this week.  It was both moving and enlightening.

“The process of becoming human, of striving to more fully understand others, myself and God, is filled with awkward discoveries and happy encounters, dreadful sorry and unmitigated joy.  I believe art should facilitate this process rather than simply decorate it, or worse, distract from it.  It should remind us of what we have forgotten, illuminate what we know and teach us new things.  Through art we can come to feel and understand and love more completely–we become more human.”  –Brian Kershisnik

Here are a few of my favorites from this gallery of Kirshisnik’s works:

Descent from the Cross was one of the most moving pieces I saw this evening.  I stood before it for a long time, considering this Easter season and the price Jesus paid for me and for my foibles.

I love the angels in Kershisnik’s paintings.  They are always near, hovering, blessing, helping, even though we don’t usually realize they are there.

This next series really spoke to me:  Death–a suite of prints.  You can look more closely at all of them here.

This one reminds me of my girlfriends who walk with me though this life.

“Perhaps we may never see the results of our endeavors, but our attempts at kindness and care will determine our character over time.”

A large reproduction of this Nativity painting hangs in our home.  I look at it every day, grateful for the wonder of Jesus’s birth.  Where was I on that sacred night?

I bought a print of this one for each of my kids to help us remember the gift of divine intervention in our lives and in the lives of our children–like when Vivy’s life was saved when the car hit her little body a few weeks ago.  Her life was protected and preserved.  Angels were involved.  I have no doubt she was saved by a miracle.     

This was an unexpected favorite–I’d never seen it before.  Jesus stopped the jaws of hell from gaping wide after us.  He paid the price in full.  Oh, what a gift!  And what a price He paid!

I purchased the book of all the pieces in this exhibit and I’ve enjoyed reading more about each one.

In the beginning room of this exhibit was a screen with this 13 minute BYU Ted Talk playing.  I’m so glad I stopped to listen to it.  Brian Kershisnik talks about Harvesting from Chaos.  He said, “It is interesting to me that in many of the religious traditions of the world, God creates a world out of chaos.  Creation comes from chaos.  Chaos is where all the stuff is, where the resources are.  I’ve found that to be true in my work as well.  Embracing chaos and harvesting from chaos is essential for fostering creativity.”

He advises us to do 2 things:  Take Notes and Make Mistakes.  I will listen to this advice again and again.  It makes perfect sense to me.  I hope you will do the same.  This will make me better at the things I am trying to do.

You can view it here.