The Galleries at Kean Opening Celebrates Cultural Differences

The Galleries at Kean University will host an opening reception on Thursday, February 17 in celebration of three distinct art exhibitions taking place on the University’s main campus. 

Profundo by Tamara Torre; In Knots by Katie Truk; and Pulse Nightclub: 49 Elegies by John Gutoskey explore self-identity, cultural responsiveness, and the stories of marginalized communities.

“Art is a symbol of knowledge and understanding,” said Lynette Zimmerman, executive director of Liberty Hall Academic Center and the Galleries. “These artists not only are incredibly talented and internationally recognized, they lead by example acknowledging that we must contend with issues of self-expression, cultural differences, and disturbing historical narratives.” 

The reception, from 5 to 7 p.m., is open to the public, and the galleries are near one another. Guests are encouraged to begin at Profundo in the Karl and Helen Burger Gallery in the CAS building; then visit In Knots in the Nancy Dryfoos Gallery in the Learning Commons; then Pulse Nightclub: 49 Elegies in the Human Rights Institute Gallery.

Profundo amplifies the voices of women of Puerto Rican descent and their struggle with institutionalized cultural violence and the disempowerment of females. Torres walks the viewer through the dichotomy of her experience capturing these stories, sharing their faces with the world, and the emotions of her own story that she expresses in her abstract works.

“She creates this connection of lightness and darkness in her work that the viewer feels immediately when they walk in the gallery,” Zimmerman said. 

In Knots, a creative journey into the mind of artist and premier art educator Truk is a personal story of loss during COVID-19. Her artistic reaction to the loss of her father resulted in 3-D works that blend playful memories with sadness and loss, pulling the viewer into the work and encouraging them to stay awhile.

Pulse Nightclub: 49 Elegies honors the victims of a tragic event that occurred in Orlando, Florida at the Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016. A lone gunman entered the club on Latinx night and perpetrated violence against the LGBTQIA+ and Latin communities, wounding over 100 individuals and killing 49.

Gutoskey’s art is challenging and ethereal in nature, using symbolism threaded into each monoprint creating one unified story. “His works unwrap the relationship between unnecessary tragedy and the challenging emotions that follow,” Zimmerman said. 

All three galleries are located on the Kean main campus, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey.