The Liberty University Art Museum opened its first gallery of the school year, “Visions of a Nation: The American Story” on Sept. 3.
The gallery focuses on pieces from comic book pages that depict the history of America. The pieces were provided by Kingstone Media’s U.S. Comics collection.
The collection features scenes from different Kingstone comics, which tell the history of America in comic book form. Certain scenes also show the process of creating a comic page, with explanations for the viewer to bring them inside the process.
“One of the major goals of this exhibit is to emphasize the history of America in a format that parents and students of various ages can relate to. The artistry of these comics is absolutely top tier,” said Todd Smith, director and curator of the Liberty University Art Museum.
The show also provides Studio and Digital Arts students with an example of ways they can practically use their degrees. Anna McCullough, Art Museum Assistant Curator, hopes the show inspires students as they consider their future career paths.
“It shows arts students how they can get into a career,” McCullough said. “It shows them that their major is useful, and that here is a real-world environment that needs their work.”
Kingstone Comics is a Christian publishing company that uses the Bible as a lens through which to view art. The company’s biblical outlook is reflected in the approach it takes to tell American history in this collection.
“It’s cool to see Christians promoting our nation’s history,” McCullough said. “It’s very important that Christians take hold of history and show the world the truth of our foundations.”
McCullough and the Art Museum team’s favorite piece is one which depicts figures from different points of American history hoisting the American flag.
“It goes from the pilgrims that arrived on the Mayflower all the way through modern history, with astronauts landing on the moon,” McCullough said. “The symbolism is really cool, from the beginning of America to present day.”
The show will run until Sept. 22 in Green Hall 1350. Admission is free.
Combs is the feature editor for The Liberty Champion.