People are like Layers and Jars of Clay
Two USF Senior Art majors are are displaying their art on campus during the month of April.
Jenn Kruger’s show, located in the basement of Jeschke, is titled, “Layers,” while Emily Larson’s show, “Jars of Clay,” is located in the first floor of the library.
Art is often inspired in ways you would never expect. That statement rings true with these senior art majors.
Kruger’s work is layered with items like magazine clippings, fabric patterns and paint. However, she says that it’s way more interesting when you get to know each piece, similar to getting to know people.
“From far away you can see the colors of my work and general shapes. But if you get in closer and get to know it you can see that there’s little text in some places and there’s different textures that you can’t see from far away,” Kruger says. “So it’s way more interesting when you get to know it, which is the same in getting to know people.”
Kruger says that she was inspired by contemporary artist Robert Rauschenberg and the St. John’s Bible.
“Robert Rauschenberg really wanted to include things that he saw in his every day life and make them reinvent them to people. And the St. John’s Bible did the same thing,” says Kruger.
Larson says her portraits are inspired by 2 Corinthians 4:7.
“The title Jars of Clay comes from a verse out of 2 Corinthians that reads, ‘But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us,'” Larson says. “As humans, we all experience a certain amount of pain and fragility and our abilities are limited because we’re ‘clay jars.'”
While working on her first portraits, Larson says saw pieces of herself in each person she painted, which lead her to calling each piece a self portrait.
“The point of that was to sort of tie together to why I am fascinated with people and why these people on the wall mean so much to me,” Larson says.
The shows will be featured on campus through the end of April.
Story by Ellie Herman & LaShe’ Tatum
