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03.10.09

Contacts: Candler School of Theology, Laurel Hanna, 404.727.4481, laurel.hanna@emory.edu; Emory University, Elaine Justice, 404.727.0643, elaine.justice@emory.edu

PAINTER & PRINTMAKER JOHN AUGUST SWANSON AT EMORY

Internationally renowned artist John August Swanson will speak on the creative process and the development of his art at four public events at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology March 24-26, 2009.

Swanson’s finely detailed, brilliantly colored paintings and original prints are in the permanent collections of such prestigious institutions as the Smithsonian, Art Institute of Chicago, London’s Tate Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Vatican Museums’ Collection of Modern Religious Art, and the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris. With holdings of more than 38 works, Candler School of Theology at Emory has acquired the largest collection of Swanson’s art.

Though Swanson’s work portrays both religious and secular subjects, there is an overarching theme of embracing life and spiritual transformation. Optimistic but rarely sentimental, his pieces offer new perspectives on familiar scenes and stories. Candler’s collection features epic visual narratives from the Bible that blend the sacred and the everyday as well as smaller scenes of circus clowns, figures Swanson calls the “distillers of human experience.”

The majority of Swanson’s works are complex serigraphs, or original screen prints. Serigraphy is a method of printmaking in which the artist draws a stencil, which is then transferred to a screen of silk or other fine mesh. The blank areas are blocked with an impenetrable substance and ink is forced through the screen onto the printing surface. Each color printed requires a separate stencil and screen; the inks are then printed one at a time in layers, with drying time in between applications. Swanson’s serigraphs are unusually complex, both in their detail and in the number of stencils used. His piece “Procession,” for example, employed 89 stencils.

Swanson will explain his artistic process in an event for Emory students Tuesday, March 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in room 252 at Candler School of Theology (CST). On Wednesday, March 25, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room 252, CST, Swanson will deliver the Whiteside Lecture, which will focus on the six-panel narrative of the birth of Jesus on permanent display at Candler. That evening from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., there will be a drop-in reception and self-guided tours celebrating the formal opening of the Swanson Collection at Candler; Swanson will give remarks at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, March 26 features a worship service at 11:00 a.m. in Cannon Chapel, which will feature four of Swanson’s pieces.

The events are free and open to the public; the Emory student seminar on March 24 and the art opening on March 25 require an RSVP. Events are sponsored in part by Emory University’s strategic initiatives on Creativity & Arts and Religions and the Human Spirit. For full event details, visitwww.candler.emory.edu.

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About Candler School of Theology

Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is an intellectually vital, internationally distinguished, and intentionally diverse university-based school of theology. Candler is committed to educating ministers, scholars of religion, and other leaders. Candler is dedicated to expanding knowledge of religion and theology, deepening spiritual life, strengthening the public witness of the churches, and building upon the breadth of Christian traditions, particularly the Wesleyan heritage, for the positive transformation of church and world. It is one of 13 United Methodist Church seminaries, and its enrollment includes more than 500 students from more than 50 denominations.

About Emory University

Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate experience, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. Perennially ranked as one of the country's top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report, Emory encompasses nine academic divisions as well as the Carlos Museum, The Carter Center, the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, Georgia’s largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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