Art Student Explores the Beauty of Nature

April 17, 2008

Beauty found in nature is the focus of Susanna Green's senior art show, currently on display in the OBU Art Building gallery.

The show opened Saturday, April 19, with an evening gallery reception and will run through May 3.

Green said the exhibition, "Naked as We Came," is inspired by both elements of nature and a song by the band Iron and Wine.

"My works are influenced by the beauty of nature and of the human body in its most natural form," said Green. "There is an emphasis on beauty found in the rawness and simplicity of nature and life."

The New Braunfels, Texas, resident said throughout her time at OBU she has maintained her own style as an artist while learning from her professors' direction and input on technique and artistic methods.

"I have learned that it can work against you as an artist to be a perfectionist," said Green. "Sometimes you need to embrace imperfections and flaws in technical skills and realize that perfect paintings and works of art can be boring and lacking in stimulation."

Putting together her exhibition allowed Green to review the works she has accomplished over the last four years and combine them together to create an exhibit unique to her style and theme.

"It has been fun trying to organize an event that encompasses all types of art," she said. "I would like to have visual art, live music and live art in the exhibit in order to create a stimulating environment for the viewers."

The art exhibit fulfills part of the requirements for an OBU bachelor's degree in art.

The spring schedule of senior art students' exhibitions includes:

April 24-May 6: Michael Elizondo, at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural and Heritage Center in Shawnee

May 7-16: Lauren Aycock, OBU Art Gallery