On Nov. 17, art and illustration student Holly Carlson will open her senior gallery “In Other Words” to the public. The exhibition features approximately 23 pieces across a variety of mediums. Each of the pieces was inspired by a specific quote or collection of words that resonated with Carlson, turning her pieces into visual interpretations of the written ideas of others.
In an interview with The Threefold Advocate, Carlson described the philosophical inspiration behind her gallery. She stated that beyond merely taking other people’s words as inspiration, she sought to explore the practice of “observing the world we’re in and seeing God’s wisdom in every aspect of it […] The idea of looking up and actually seeing and noticing.”
Carlson noted her experience studying abroad in Ireland as particularly impactful. Being in a new environment allowed Carlson to not only experience a different landscape and culture, but also reconsider how she understood and interacted with the world around her. Surrounded by natural beauty and removed from the familiarity of her everyday life, she said she found herself more attentive to her surroundings and more willing to look at things from a different perspective. She described this shift in perspective as one of the main inspirations behind her gallery.
Nevertheless, Carlson felt that she lacked a specific personal experience that could adequately encompass the feelings and ideas she had developed during her time abroad. Instead of basing her gallery on a particular personal experience or testimony, she decided to use her art to portray the ideas and experiences of others.
“I can have other people tell the story for me,” Carlson said.
What Carlson didn’t initially realize, however, was that by selecting other people’s words and translating them through her art, she was also revealing a deeper part of herself. What began as an attempt to portray the experiences of others gradually became a reflection of her own perspectives and experiences.
“It’s kind of ironic that it twisted in on itself [...] it's still other people, but it's all me in the sense that this is what has impacted me, and this is the way my brain works,” Carlson said.
However, developing the concept was only the beginning of a much longer process. Carlson stated that she had been working on the gallery for approximately a year, citing the difficulty of maintaining the same vision and inspiration throughout the process as one of her main challenges. As she continued to grow and change, reconnecting with the perspective that initially inspired the exhibition became increasingly difficult.
“I just have to go off the fact that I trust it was inspired by God and that it will bring, I guess, purpose to the other people that see it,” Carlson said.
Carlson also mentioned the importance of taking breaks and surrounding herself with people throughout the process. Among the ways she found inspiration again was taking time away from her work, including going out to sit in a field with her friend Grace French, who was similarly working on her own gallery. The moment allowed Carlson to slow down and refocus on the things that mattered most. She highlighted the importance of actually taking time to observe and listen to the world around her in order to properly accomplish the goal she had set out to achieve.
“I think the most important thing about this gallery has been taking breaks and not doing work,” Carlson said. “You can't always be doing something and be profitable in what you're doing.”
Carlson also credited the support of those closest to her, particularly her roommate, Lindsey Harris, and French, for helping her through the process. When asked about the influence of the people around her, she described their support as “the only reason it's happening,” adding that it had been “lifesaving” to have people there through the more difficult moments of creating the gallery.
“She has put so much work into this,” Harris said, describing what it was like to live with Calrson while she worked on the gallery. “I've seen her working in the art barn, working in our room. Literary anywhere we are, she’s thinking about her gallery. She’s put a lot of thought into it. Every time she works on a piece, she gets lost in the world, and it’s really fun to see her go with the flow and create.”
“It's been amazing seeing Holly make all the pieces and pour so much of her time and effort into her gallery. I remember when we were first thinking of our ideas and we went to a field to pray, and it was just so fun to get to bounce ideas off each other and to hear her heart behind what she wanted to do,” French said.
And this forms the heart of Carlson’s gallery: the importance of not only observing the world around you, but viewing it through the eyes and words of others in order to gain a better understanding of its beauty. Carlson’s gallery would not have been accomplished without the support and perspectives of those around her. In many ways, the heart of “In Other Words” lies in the other — in the people, experiences and ideas that extend beyond the self. It is by letting go of one’s own perspective, Carlson believes, that a person can better appreciate the beauty of God’s creation.
“I think the world is so much fuller when you’re willing to let go of yourself and to see it in a different way,” Carlson said.
“In Other Words” will open on Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. in Windgate Visual Arts East. The opening will include a reception where attendees can interact with Carlson and her work. The gallery will remain open through Dec. 5.
Photo provided by Holly Carlson
