(From Southern News Service)
“Portraits: The Influence of Tradition,” a solo exhibition sculpture and painting by artist Sohail Shehada, will open Monday, Sept. 11, in the Spiva Art Gallery at Missouri Southern State University.
An artist’s talk will be held at 1 p.m. on Sept. 11 with a reception following from 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibit will be on view through Oct. 6.
Cultural tradition has been an important theme in Shehada’s work, whose research and teachings have included aboriginal art, African masks and various themes of non-western and western culture and performance. His art features theatrical and sacred figures of performance, such as the ornate costumes of the Ballets Russes and African masks.
The figures in his work assume a certain identity based on traditional attire or physical traits.
“There is a commonality between sacred and theatrical performance,” Shehada says. “Even though the subject matter of the portraits may take place in different parts of the world, the subjects are acting in tradition through elaborate costumes, makeup, and rhythmic movement. This exhibit brings to light these commonalities and by placing these cultures side by side.”
Shehada earned an MFA in ceramics and a bachelor’s of architecture from the University of Oklahoma, as well as a BFA from Oklahoma State University.
He is an assistant professor of figurative sculpture and drawing at the University of Oklahoma. He also serves as an adjunct professor in OU’s African and African American studies program.
The Spiva Art Gallery of MSSU is open at no charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For information, call the MSSU Art Department at 417-625-9563.
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