Meet resiliency: Krasl's new art exhibit

photos by sky stockton

In the dictionary, resilience is defined as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” While this definition is technically correct, resilience can look different for everyone. To some, it’s persevering through an injury or fighting against tough times at home—and to others, it might just be overcoming nerves while talking in front of the class. But regardless of the struggle, the greatest part of resilience is the end. The victory. 

This year, Krasl Art Center wanted to celebrate that moment of success in an art exhibit titled Resiliency, which will feature various interpretations of what resilience means to each artist. The exhibition began on September 30 and will run through  December 1 in downtown St. Joseph, and the grand opening was on October 4. 

Ms. Tami Miller, deputy director, selected the artists and spoke with Spectrum Health Lakeland to identify mental health as a prominent issue in the community. According to Mr. Matthew Bizoe, marketing and events manager for Krasl, the partnership with Spectrum Health Lakeland isn’t a new concept, as they’ve sponsored various other Krasl events, but this it the first time Krasl has worked with them to this degree. The entire event was coordinated—Lakeland reviewed which art pieces were selected for the exhibition, then it came down to Krasl’s team to ensure the right core concepts were communicated with the public.

Compared to past shows at Krasl, Resiliency was unique in that it utilized the whole first floor of the building, making use of the new “Overlook Room.” This addition is set off from the rest of the traditional gallery spaces and was intended to provide a space to reflect and reset after experiencing the art. It includes interactive activities, a self-serve tea station, and intimate seating areas for discussion or to simply relax. With sunlight beaming through the large windows, the quiet bustle of gallery visitors just outside, and potted plants at every table, that space alone is reason enough to visit. “Shift and stay,” the gallery encourages.

One of the most interesting aspects of the show was how it conveyed different artistic responses to the theme. Resilience is an abstract word and thus, by nature, highly interpretive—it can be described differently depending on the experiences and viewpoints of each individual. This was emphasized in not only the art, which ranged from paintings to mixed media prints to even visual art and dance, but also the artists’ personal statements.

“To me, the meaning that first comes to mind is the ability to endure,” Ms. Alli Farkas, a featured artist in the show, said on resilience. 

Her paintings, Sky Pads, are based off reflections of lilies in the water. She described her process as  “unpredictable” and said that she finds artistic resilience in pushing herself to work through mistakes until she creates something she is happy with. 

To others, resilience can be found externally as well. 

“The ability to develop resilience comes from learning how to access your resources…  resources that make you feel glad to be alive and that help you to spring back and reconnect to life, love, and the world around you,” — John Gutoskey

“The ability to develop resilience comes from learning how to access your resources…  resources that make you feel glad to be alive and that help you to spring back and reconnect to life, love, and the world around you,” Mr. John Gutoskey said. 

An Ann Arbor based artist, Mr. Gutoskey created mixed media prints, Liminal Landscapes, that depict the feeling of being “in-between” and his experiences as a queer person in a heterosexual dominant world.

According to Ms. Martina Nehrling, another artist, resilience “requires a personal activism to continually find a perspective that allows one to appreciate the daily absurdities of life with tenderness, if not humor, and to somehow remain hopeful.” 

Her work, titled Through a Purple Patch, features a 21 foot stretch of painted canvases wrapping around two walls in the gallery. Her painting was installed in a corner in the gallery, as it represents the idea of “turning a corner,” a visual metaphor for resilience.

And while the stories told through art in the gallery can impact any age, this theme of resiliency is especially important among younger people, as growing up can present many situations that will be stressful and test one’s limits. 

Ms. Farkas said, “I think adolescence is a very trying time of life—at this age we know a bit about a lot of things, but not enough, in most cases, to solve our own problems.”

But even if our challenges and problems remain, learning positive and effective ways to practice self-care and reflection is key—and a primary focus throughout the exhibit. “Engaging youth in [resiliency] practices as early as possible is crucial to improving overall mental health within a community,” Mr. Bizoe said. Many of the artists agreed, reminding younger students and high-schoolers to find strength in vulnerability and never fear expressing how they feel. 

“If high school is a difficult time for you, be patient, it does get better. Reach out if you need support. No matter what your struggles are, you are not alone. Know your confidence is increasing, and the anxieties you feel now will dissipate. Try not to be hard on yourself,” Ms. Nehrling said.

In the words of an anonymous AP art student at SJHS, “Resiliency is bouncing back like a rubber band ball when it falls off your desk.” 

So let yourself fall, but remember to pick yourself back up again. Bounce back, and celebrate the power of resilience alongside nine talented artists at Krasl Art Center. You’ve earned it.