“Meet the Fergusons,” an exhibition of works by Nashville artist Samuel L. Dunson Jr., will be at Vanderbilt Divinity School Sept. 17 through Nov. 12.
“These paintings present a unique visual commentary on the problems that have arisen in communities affected by anger and distrust,” according to Dunson, who teaches studio art at Tennessee State University.
The exhibition, which is free and open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m., is sponsored by the Divinity School’s Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture program.
There will be an opening reception with the artist Sept. 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. in the gallery, located in G-20 of the Divinity School.
Dunson said that these paintings were the result of his “creative engagement of the turmoil that has arisen in the past year,” following the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. He noted that he was not trying to be political or controversial with these works.
“Dunson wants to consider the issues with spiritual eyes—in his case, as an African American Christian man and artist,” according to Dave Perkins, associate director of Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture.
Dunson earned his undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University and an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He hopes that his art will contribute to greater discourse on human relations.
For more information, email Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture.