The Newman University Steckline Gallery will present “Jataka Tales,” curated by Cody Seekins, as the fourth show of its 2014-2015 season. The exhibit of paintings inspired by Buddhist allegories begins with a Final Friday reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. The paintings will be on display through Dec. 19. Both the reception and admission to the gallery are free and open to the public.
An “Art for Lunch” presentation by the artist will be held Tuesday, Dec. 2 from noon to 1 p.m. in the gallery. A light lunch will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests can also bring their lunch. This event is also free and reservations are not required.
Cody Seekins’ inspiration for his Jataka Tales comes from a cleared conscious mind to reveal a vast unconscious dimension of his greater being.
“Because this awareness produced in me a natural affinity for eastern thought I refer to my works as ‘Jâtaka Tales’ or simply ‘Jâtakas,’” Seekins said. “I see the challenges, enigmas, sentiments, and ephemera of my experience as similar to the historical third person Jâtaka narratives of Gautama Buddha before his enlightenment. The term Budgie-Sattva within my portfolio is an appropriation combining the word budgie (parrot) with ‘bodhisattva’, or one who is still on the path toward perfect awareness.”
Seekins said the traditional Jâtaka tales are an interesting collection of Buddhist allegories, which recognize the subjective journey toward enlightenment by illustrating the groundwork an individual goes through.
“That groundwork manifests as incarnations of personal identity, experience, and learning; a framework allowing me to build a body of paintings pulling from my exterior and interior life. In effect, I am narrating contemporary Jâtaka tales from the first person perspective,” Seekins said.
To learn more about Seekins and his work,visit www.codyseekins.com.
The Steckline Gallery is located inside the De Mattias Fine Arts Center on the Newman campus, 3100 McCormick. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, call 316-942-4291, ext. 2199.
