GOSHEN, Ind. -- An exhibit of recent works by encaustic painter Philip Hershberger will be on display in Goshen College's Hershberger Art Gallery Jan. 11 to Feb. 11, with an exhibit reception Jan. 11 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the gallery, located in the Music Center.

Encaustic painting is an ancient technique that combines hot wax with resin and color pigment, and then applied in its semi-liquid form to the panel as paint. Though the medium is not easy to use, the technique is known for its tactile texture and beeswax fragrance.

About Hershberger's paintings, Lisa Kurts of the Lisa Kurts Gallery in Memphis, Tenn., said, "His encaustic paintings reflect a delicious quietude and graceful spaciousness, they also exude excitement and passion through an inspirational light captured in richly hot to stonily cool hues. These works allude to the emotional and spiritual shifting and pausing that occur during the course of everyone's life through the interplay of subtle and elegant drawing and powerful, light-filled coloration. They evidence the triumph of spirit over worldly concerns."

Art critic Karl Emil Willers said, "Philip Hershberger works with the vocabulary of the ordinary, the everyday É However, the attention Hershberger bestows counteracts and contradicts plain appearances -- his renderings convey character, presence, vulnerability and humanity."

Hershberger grew up in Hesston, Kan., and lives in Topeka, Kan. He has worked as a full-time painter in his home studio since 1980. Hershberger received an associate's degree from Hesston College, a bachelor's degree in fine arts and a master's degree in painting from Emporia (Kan.) State University. Past honors Hershberger has received include acceptance into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Kansas Governor's Arts Awards and a Kansas Artists Award.

"The work of painting is a common enough pursuit. Like most everyone else, I'm simply doing what I feel I need to be doing," Hershberger said. "I'm finding a deepening appreciation for the rhythm of process. The more I paint, the less distinction I discern between occupation, avocation and recreation -- between what I have to do and what I want to do."

The Hershberger Art Gallery, located in the Goshen College Music Center, is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The building is accessible to people using wheelchairs and others with physical limitations.

Upcoming exhibits in the Goshen College Hershberger Art Gallery:

Feb. 15 -- Patrice Bovo, mixed media sculpture, through March 17

March 21 -- Senior Show 1, through April 1

April 4 -- Senior Show 2, through April 23

April 23 -- Senior Commencement Show, through April 25

May 2 -- Juried Student Show, through May 17

June 7 -- Douglas Kinsey, printmaking & oil painting, through Sept. 15

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values -- passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership -- prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, Kaplan's "Most Interesting Colleges" guide and U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.

Editors: For more information, contact Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

 

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