Lexington Art League
  • About
    • Visit
    • Lexington Art Blog
    • Studio Artists
    • Staff
    • Contact
  • Exhibits
    • Exhibiting Artists
    • Current
    • Upcoming
    • Exhibition Archive
  • Events
  • Opportunities
    • Internships
    • Exhibition (For Artists)
    • Collaboration (For Anyone)
  • Give & Support
    • Donate
    • Membership
    • Sponsoring
    • Volunteer
  • The Loudoun House
    • Photo Archive
    • Rentals >
      • Wedding Gallery
  • About
    • Visit
    • Lexington Art Blog
    • Studio Artists
    • Staff
    • Contact
  • Exhibits
    • Exhibiting Artists
    • Current
    • Upcoming
    • Exhibition Archive
  • Events
  • Opportunities
    • Internships
    • Exhibition (For Artists)
    • Collaboration (For Anyone)
  • Give & Support
    • Donate
    • Membership
    • Sponsoring
    • Volunteer
  • The Loudoun House
    • Photo Archive
    • Rentals >
      • Wedding Gallery

Art Stories

Tales of inspiration and creativity, behind-the-scenes glimpses at art-making, in-depth arts features, and narrative portraits of LAL artists.
Share your Art Story ideas...

fear, awe, and comfort:  appalachian  religious experience explored  in csa artist's printmaking

4/14/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Printmaker Charlie Campbell grew up attending a Pentecostal Church in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, an experience which he explores in his work for the Spring 2014 CSA crop. He discusses the cultural and religious complexities of his up bringing in his own words:

My contribution to the Spring "crop" is a two-color relief print (linocut) on 140# French's Pop-Tone. It depicts a snake-handling worship service at a fictional church in Eastern Kentucky - held by anthropomorphic, cartoon animals. In its style, it's similar to something you might see in a children's book or Highlights magazine.

I grew up Pentecostal (Church of God) in Hazard, Kentucky during the "Satanic panic" of the 1980's. I was raised to fear Dungeons and Dragons, heavy metal music, and all other forms of "devil-worship" and witchcraft.

Though we share many of the same rituals and beliefs, our snake-handling neighbors (most often Pentecostals, themselves) were often associated with these things. They were vilified and forbidden - just like Metallica and Magic: The Gathering. In much the same way as popular culture, their ostracism from my church and community gave them an air of "forbidden" mystery and appeal.


Picture
Since growing up, moving on, and thinking more independently, I've been fascinated with these themes in Appalachian and religious culture.

Even (without the snakes) our church services were a strange mix of fear, awe, and comfort. It's intimidating to experience some of these services through the eyes of a child. There's shouting, violent, full-body spasms, stomping, incomprehensible languages, interpretation of these languages by a "medium," the laying-on-of-hands for the sick, talk of judgement, eternal damnation, and hellfire. On the other hand, there's also the spiritually uplifting community, supportive friends and family, reassurance that the poverty so many of us experienced was merely temporary, and that heaven awaited to solve all of our problems.

In this print, I attempt to imagine what it might be like for the children of an Appalachian holiness church like this - projecting my own experiences. We have so much in common: the fear, awe, and reassurance mixed up in confusing and sometimes unsettling imagery. It's very much like the mysticism and ritual you'll find in the fantasy genre of popular culture that these churches (like mine) so often demonized.

Picture
I chose to depict this scene in the same sort of visual language as children's media because in my own nostalgic journey, it matches the era in which I was attending these services. It's also a convenient way to illustrate "comfort," child-like aesthetics and innocence as a foil to the threat of danger (real or spiritual).


Want to get your hands on Charlie's work? Become a CSA Shareholder!! Click below to #getyourshare! And don't forget to join us Friday, April 25 from 6-9 to celebrate this season's fresh batch of Community Supported Art work!
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    October 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014

    RSS Feed

Picture
Donate
Public Gallery Hours
Wednesday  12pm-5pm
Thursday  12pm-5pm
Friday  12pm-5pm
 Saturday  12pm - 5pm

​
Viewings also available by appointment
The Loudoun House
209 Castlewood Dr.
Lexington, Ky. 40505
Email: LexingtonArtLeague@gmail.com
Phone 859-254-7024
Picture
We are proud to be an adopter of GoodGiving.net.  Check out our portrait today!
Picture
All Lexington Art League programs are made possible through the generous support of LexArts. LexArts allocation of $50,000 represents the largest single donation to the operations of the Lexington Art League.
Picture
The Kentucky Arts Council, a state arts agency, provides operating support to the Lexington Art League with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by Lexington Parks & Recreation.