PHOTO: Art piece featuring two hand statues with a large nail piercing the palms - one nail says "lies" and "murder" and the other one says "pride" and "add." Photo courtesy of Alexandria Zahirniak. — Alexandria Zahirniak's art piece, "Transgressions," is one of the featured sculptures in the "Art of Faith" exhibit. Photo courtesy of Alexandria Zahirniak.

UHCL alumna and current student team up for ‘Art of Faith’ exhibit

By Agueda Jimenez Last updated Apr 18, 2019 285 0

Art piece "Transgressions" by Alexandria Zahirniak featured in the exhibit. "Transgressions" is two hand statues with a large nail piercing the palms. Photo courtesy of Alexandria Zahirniak. — Art piece “Transgressions” by Alexandria Zahirniak featured in the exhibit. “Transgressions” is two hand statues with a large nail piercing the palms. Photo courtesy of Alexandria Zahirniak.

The University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) is hosting a new exhibit by artists Alexandria Zahirniak, alumna, and Dale Reed, art and design major.

The Art of Faith exhibit is a combination of art pieces inspired by the artists’ Christian faith. The art will be displayed from April 19 to May 15 in the Artist Project Space located in the Arbor North Building.

An opening reception with the artists will take place on Friday, April 19, from noon to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Zahirniak is a 2018 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) graduate of UHCL. Her BFA has a studio concentration and a minor in art history. Zahirniak is currently working as an administrative assistant and student ministries director at her church. She and her husband will be attaining their minister credentials at the Assemblies of God church in the fall of 2019.

Art piece "Dry Bones Made Flesh" by Alexandria Zahirniak featured in the exhibit. "Dry Bones Made Flesh" is a sculpture of a woman's head and upper chest that transitions from bones to flesh. Photo courtesy of Alexandria Zahirniak. — Art piece “Dry Bones Made Flesh” by Alexandria Zahirniak featured in the exhibit. “Dry Bones Made Flesh” is a sculpture of a woman’s head and upper chest that transitions from bones to flesh. Photo courtesy of Alexandria Zahirniak.

Zahirniak said she considers her artwork a form of worship and uses her artistic training to create objects of sacred inspiration to communicate qualities of God and aspects of religion often difficult to visualize.

“My work is inspired by scriptures and images that God gives me,” Zahirniak said. “I often explore themes that are difficult to visualize so that I can aid in understanding God. The Lord often directs me to create my work, being his hands is a part of worship. I strive to live a life of worship which entails using my abilities in my everyday life to honor God.”

Reed is a current student at UHCL who is in the process of attaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and design. This is Reed’s first art exhibit and he is excited to share his artwork inspired by faith.

Art piece by Dale Reed featured at the exhibit. Image of a cross composed of different faith inspired images. Photo courtesy of Dale Reed.

“A common goal with my pieces is to have (as a theme) something that places a focus on acts of good character, especially sacrificial love,” Reed said. “I try to keep in mind what Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.’”

Reed’s aspiration for the exhibit is to help viewers obtain a greater understanding of God’s love for them and for the viewers to respond to it by being inspired.

“There is so much depression, suicidal thinking and feelings of inferiority going on around us,” Reed said. “Probably much more than we are aware of. I believe the antidote to this negativity is the knowledge of God’s great love for us individually.”

Reed and Zahirniak hope the exhibit works as an invitation to get to know God on a personal level by viewing the interpretations and experiences of the artists. They encourage people to come with an open mind, regardless of their religious views in hope that the viewers can get something meaningful out of the show, even if it is just another point of view.

Art piece by Dale Reed featured at the exhibit. Image of a white horse rearing. Photo courtesy of Dale Reed.

Reed and Zahirniak decided last Spring to put together the exhibit, however, their art pieces have been in the works over the past two years. Reed and Zahirniak first met in a printmaking class they had together at UHCL, taught by Lauren Kussro, assistant professor of art and design, where they discussed the idea of putting a show together that showcased their shared faith inspired artwork.

“Alex and Dale were the kind of students that faculty love to have,” Kussro said. “They had kind and positive attitudes, wanted to learn and were not afraid to work hard. They both made some fantastic pieces in my printmaking class. Dale did some beautiful color etchings, and Alex did some very lovely, subtle color monotypes. Both of them are strongly influenced by their faith, which comes through in their artwork.”

Reed expressed God brought Zahirniak and him together.

“I believe God has been involved with the creation of this exhibit from its beginning,” Reed said. “Since enrolling at UHCL, I had been wanting to have a show with spiritual inspiration as the theme. Since teaming up with another artist could be more impactful, I started asking around about such an artist. When I began hearing about a fellow student (Alexandria Zahirniak) and her inspirational art pieces, I felt like she just might be the artist. As fate (or God) would have it, we ended up having a printmaking class together where we talked about a show and decided to have one. It happened to be her last semester, so I was very fortunate to meet her before she graduated.”

CORRECTION: 4/18/19 – The article has been edited as it previously stated “Thursday, April 19.” It has been corrected to “Friday, April 19.”