Mennonite Art Gallery and Art Exhibit: Reviews of Exhibits

Pop-Mennonite
A CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBIT

"What a great exhibit! i saw things in a different light with all of the paintings displayed at the same time...great job! - trish

"I thought this was a great exhibit. The content definitely goes beyond the Mennonite culture. I saw themes that brought back memories of my Southern Baptist upbringing." - Melanie

"Incredible depictions of your experiences. Thank you for sharing your views and concepts with us. Your background has given so much to our present. Continue your pursuit of sharing with us, your viewers.Thanks" -Christy

"Wow. A very powerful display. Thanks for taking the time to portray your struggle with what it means to be Mennonite in the modern world. I was especially struck by both your Roll in the Hay and C.O. series. You captured well the feelings of guilt and ambiguity that are attached to both of these topics." - Anonymous

"I felt so many different emotions while viewing and thinking about your work. I had visited your website a number of times, but to see the display of all your work together was a much more satisfying experience. I have spoken to several people about "Pop-Mennonite", and they are all intrigued by the concept. I think that anyone who has the means to view your display and listen to the soundtrack should take the time to do so. It's quite an experience. It was an honor to meet you and your wife. Thank you for putting together the "Pop-Mennonite" exhibition. I look forward to writing about it in my weblog."-Keith Syvinski

"Thanks for being willing to put a "controversial" display in the public's eye. This expression of your experience in the church and world is important and valid despite being a bit unorthodox. (The exhibit reminds me of the work of Asher Lev, a character in the novels of Chaim Potok. A Jew, he depicts his family relationship by painting his mother with arms stretched, one toward his father, and one toward Asher. He chooses to use a crucifix to best describe the pain of his mother in her attempt to make her family whole, which as you can imagine, is quite scandalous for a young man from the Jewish Orthodox tradition. He agonizes over the display of the painting, but in the end chooses to show it, knowing that he must share his response to his world.)" - Amy

"This is freaking awesome work. I really enjoyed looking at it. More then one of your pieces gave me shivers. Im glad I never experienced that fear. My mommy protected me from theological bullcrap. How nice of her."

"I'm impressed with the comparisons between the theological themes in your piece Excommunicaton and my recent exploration of Martin Luther and anti-Semitism. -from Martin Luther's On the Jews and Their Lies. "In brief, dear princes and lords, those of you who have Jews under your rule--so that you and we all can be rid of the unbearable, devilish burden of the Jews, lest we become guilty sharers before God in the lies, blasphemy. . which the mad Jews indulge in so freely and wantonly against the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . do not grant them protection, safe-conduct, or communion with us. . With this faithful counsel and warning I wish to cleanse and exonerate my conscience" By looking at the past and reflecting on the horrors that occurred in our time that stemmed from such views, a true spirtuality among us can be nurtured" -Carolyn Mast

"I can identify with the excommunication painting, when I as a youth at a conservative mennonite witnessed a fair amount of "Xings" from the church. Did I feel any more saved because I remained in the good "GRACES" of the rules?? Maybe just a bit more religous because of the man made rules such as hair on the ears or side burns...etc... the women with cape dressess with what meaning??? to hide the one real beauty of the women? all the young boys knew better... I only believe that the church leaders that impose all these restrictions will be someday be held to a higher standard ... I believe that their left eye will pop out in amazement at just how open and accepting Jesus Christ grace really is!!!" Anonymous, Goshen Indiana

"Thought proving art-rather, a psychodrama that snares us to look deeply into our own stories.-Thanks"-Ft. Wayne

Special thanks to the Mennonite-Amish Museum Committee and Mennonite Historical Library

Photography © Keith Syvinski. Copyright © The Swartzentruber Studio | All rights reserved
Special thanks to the Indiana Arts Commission & the National Endowment for the Arts for the studio support grants

Pop-Mennonite A CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBIT
Pop-Mennonite *Goshen College, Goshen Indiana* October - December, 2005 Exhibits sponsored by the Mennonite-Amish Museum Committee and the Mennonite Historical Library Additional exhibits being scheduled. Check back. See the Pop-Mennonite Exhibit
Selected comments from the guest book: "Wonderful, provocative and principled. I'll be back" "Very interesting and thought provoking!" "Amazing work! Thank you." "Very amusing. Well done."-Camden, MI "Scary, but true"-South Bend, IN "Loved the Exhibit. Thanks" "Extremely Interesting" -Ohio State University "The nail has been struck and drove"-Grace College "Disturbing and enlightening. Brought flashbacks of Pink Floyd The Wall."-Cassopolis, MI "Amen" "Absorbing" "Awesome!" "Very interesting" -Lancaster, PA "Old order events" -Harrisonburg, VA "Deep thoughts, well conveyed." -Winona Lake, IN "Rather unusual" -Harrisonburg, VA "This is stupid and sick." -New York, NY "This was great and eye opening. Well done." -Chicago, IL "Amazing truth-telling" -Mishawaka, IN "An example where God allows man to be given over to his sinful thoughts (Romans 1:29). "To a depraved mind" -Elkhart, IN "Thank You. False issues many Mennonites are unwilling to discuss." -Elkhart, IN "Reveals the facts…sad but true!"-New Paris, IN "Touched the nerve. Well done!" "Unique! Bravo." "Back for a second look" "So sorry about your father-but see-it has come to some good-right?" "Intriguing, thought provoking, Reminiscent of my [brethren] upbringing and Mennonite friends." -Martinsburg, PA "Still thinking" "Just what this gallery needed!" "My thoughts precisely!" -Shipshewana, IN "I did not understand the relationship between the comic strips and your artwork!" -Kathmandu, Nepal
Selected E-mails: "... I don't think that ["Pop-Mennonite"] is in keeping with the essential New Testament perspectives promoted by [Brethren publication]. We believe in honoring the New Testament beliefs and practices, not in denigrating or degrading them. Your "art" does not seem to be in keeping with the instructions of Philippians 4:8-9.Sincerely, CM
Comments from the blog: "I am fascinated by these paintings and drawings. The juxtaposition of Mennonites and pop culture is both jarring and honest. Like the artist, I grew up near the boundaries of conservative Mennonite communities. This art expresses, perhaps better than anything I've seen, the deep tension I feel between Mennonite faith and pop culture. Thank you." -Anonymous "Don, I'm trying to figure out your REAL attitude toward popular culture. Your text seems to see it as an invidious influence on us (the potty picture) yet in the drawings where you superimpose cartoon figures on Mennonite subjects, the cartoon figures are attractively drawn and the Mennonite figures are grotesque. Maybe it's all juxtaposition, asking us to figure it out. But I know that Disney sort of led you away from Menno so I tend to see pop winning over Mennonite here." - Anonymous "You know Don, the thing is, the work isn't just about Mennonites. It's about all of us."-Teresa Smith, Times-Union "Here's a personal question but related to religion and art. You have moved into the evangelical (maybe even fundamentalist) stream by attending Rosedale, Grace and the community church in Warsaw. Would Grace College, or your church, sponsor an exhibit of this art work? Or would they sponsor an exhibit of your work if it made a similar critique, in the same style, of evangelical Christianity? (I doubt it.) Is it ironic, then, or somehow instructive, that a Mennonite college does sponsor the exhibit?" - Anonymous
"Yes, the juxtaposition is quite jarring. And yes, the Mennonites do contrast with the secular world. However I am distressed by the way they are depicted in this art. Mennonites (like all Christians) search for peace with God. They find this in living a life that takes the Scriptures more literally. No, they are not perfect, but they truly strive to exemplify Colossians 3:12-17. What good comes of taking the virtues of a people seeking peace and desecrating them in the name of art? Consider Philippians 4:8 and Colossians 3:12-17. 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Philippians 4:8. 18 Finally, brothers, 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" -Anonymous