Grace Hooley | Echo
Feb. 28 in the galleria of the library, CoPro (Collaborate Programming) presents the art show "Meraki."
"The title of the event is Meraki, which means 'to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself into your work,'" senior and CoPro president Nicki Mortland said.
While the show will begin Feb. 28, it will continue so that students can have time to examine and experience the pieces.
This art show is based off of an event usually put on by Women's Programming, which is now CoPro. In the announcement sent to students, CoPro was asking for visual and written work pertaining to gender, sexuality and identity as it pertains to the body, soul and mind.
"The theme of Sexuality and the Body Week this year is Body, Mind, and Soul, so we want the art show to spark conversations about these topics as we get ready for that week later in March," junior and member of CoPro, Brad Walker said.
CoPro will be accepting submissions pertaining to gender, sexuality and identity through Feb. 25, and the pieces can be emailed to nicki_mortland@taylor.edu. The event is open to all Taylor students and the community to experience art and pieces portraying sexuality and gender.
CoPro's goal is that this will foster a space for thought and discussion about sexuality, gender and identity. Mortland hopes the art will be treated with respect and honor. Graduate assistant of discipleship Christina Brandsma hopes that the art show creates reflection regarding the topics sexuality and the body will discuss later in the semester.
"The event is an opportunity for Taylor students to express their own understanding of gender, sexuality, and identity through their artwork if they chose to submit," Mortland said. "For those who don't submit, we hope that this event will spark deliberate conversation and discussion for everyone who comes to see it, providing the starting points and language to explain our own understanding and experience with these topics, as well as listening and honoring the thoughts of others."
