Liberty art museum debuts three brand new paintings, and you need to see them

A moment of despair on the face of one lone survivor. A moment to contemplate, “What if?”

“The Days of Noah,” painted by Dan Johnson, depicts a scene of Noah’s Ark unlike most others.

The 9-foot-wide by 6-foot-tall painting is displayed prominently to capture the attention of those walking by the gallery. This piece is not only captivating in size, but also in grandeur. 

Usually works of this subject depict Noah’s ark in the forefront, spotlighting the white-haired Old Testament hero surrounded by family and the many pairs of animals climbing on board the ark.

But not this piece.

The focus falls on a man struggling in the gray, angry waters, struggling to survive as waves crash all around him. In the far distance, the ark floats along, safely preserving Noah, his family and the animals
he gathered.

Todd Smith, founding chair of the Department of Studio & Digital Arts and founding director of the Liberty University Art Museum, points out the uniqueness of this scene. He describes it as very personal and salvation-oriented. 

“Any story about the ark alludes to salvation,” Smith said. “This painting raises many questions, one of which is, ‘Can a person who is swept off a mountain actually be redeemed in that moment as they cry out
to God?’”

Smith recognizes the importance of mystery within the artwork, which allows viewers to contemplate the piece.

“I think the artist wanted viewers to really think about life and death and (a) relationship with God,” Smith said.

This piece is one of three of the newest additions to this collection. These additions were all donated by the artist Johnson. 

Johnson’s second painting illustrates the account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel described in 1 Kings 18 

“Mount Carmel” captures the moment that fire flashed down from heaven to light the altar. Johnson pays great attention to detail in the elements of the fire as well as the details of every person, from their emotions to their scars.  

The last piece by Johnson portrays when Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James visited Jesus’ tomb and found that it was empty. 

“The Living” gets its name from Luke 24:5. In this verse, the women are asked, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”

The image captures not only the women and Jesus, but also two guards laying on the ground outside of the empty tomb as an angel sits on the rock that had been rolled away from the entrance. 

Each of Johnson’s paintings will remain on display as part of the permanent collection until Feb. 23 when a juried photography exhibition will take
its place. 

Smith encourages students to visit the art museum as an educational experience. He wants students to appreciate the scale, the processes and the true color of artwork that they cannot fully comprehend from images in a textbook.  

“When viewing a work of art in this particular exhibit in a museum, you’re really getting to see an artistic act of worship in visual form,” Smith said. “When we create, we bring (God) glory, and I think when we look at works of art, we experience joy.” 

Jillian Ramsey, assistant curator for the art gallery, believes that the museum also gives a needed getaway for students. 

“It provides students with an escape from the stresses of classes or whatever they’re going through in their personal lives,” Ramsey said. “It’s pretty quiet in there all the time, and so a lot of students just come in there to be calm for a minute and experience some peacefulness in the middle of the day.” 

Whether studying the arts or just exploring Green Hall, students can witness artwork from other peers and donors all throughout the year at the Liberty University Art Museum.

Liberty’s art museum currently displays works from the permanent collection along with the Barbara A. Engstrom Gallery, which contains works from artist Barbara Engstrom.

This gallery serves as a permanent exhibit in the museum. Pieces of Engstrom’s work rotate throughout the year to display the full collection she donated and to honor her for the funds that she and her husband provided for the recent expansion of the museum.

Works from the permanent collection accompany Engstrom’s work until the next show is exhibited. 

Along with the works from the permanent collection and juried photography exhibition, there are two more shows coming to the art museum this semester. The Senior Studio Art Show launches March 23, and the Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition debuts April 27. 

Williams is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion

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