Made, Displayed, Sold

Dec 01, 2011

stuart

Musicians make records. Authors publish books. And artists?

They sell their artwork.

Every year at the Juried Student Art Exhibition, Concordia and the same patrons each purchase a piece of student artwork as a way of tangibly encouraging creative endeavors.

Concordia's art department purchased the painting "Emerging Tones" by Emily Swedberg '12, Moorhead.

"A part of me is going to stay here at Concordia," she says. "Part of me will live on."

For her, it is not all about getting money from her work, but being affirmed that someone is inspired by what she creates. Although she does leave her mark on each canvas, she has no problem giving her work away.

"I'm always going to make better artwork," she says.

Swedberg has art in her genes. Her grandpa was an illustrator, and she had plenty of time to practice growing up.

"We didn't have a Nintendo, so we would draw cartoons and comics," she says.

Swedberg is also a musician; she plays violin in The Concordia Orchestra. "Emerging Tones" features the face of Joshua Bell, one of her favorite violinists, and expresses emerging artistic and musical tones along with the emotions that come along with creating art.

"I have this moment when the entire world evaporates," she says.

Lewis Engel '15, St. Cloud, Minn., has been living in the art world since age 6 when he took his first clay class. His ceramics have been coming off the wheel ever since.

Engel received the patron award. His work "Modern Dog?" was an assignment for his Inquiry Seminar, "Ceramic: Creative Spirit."

He is the first first-year student to receive the patron award.

While Engel says that he still brings most of his artwork "home to Mom," he loves knowing that his purchased artwork is bringing joy to someone else.

"I like the idea of my art being in a stranger's house," he says. "I hope it improves their day."

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