Steckline Gallery will present “Qualities and Quantities” by Shannon Johnston during a First Friday exhibition from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 1, at Newman University.
“Qualities and Quantities” will be on display Oct. 31- Nov. 29. Art for Lunch, which includes a discussion with the artist and pizza lunch for Newman students, will take place noon-1 p.m. Oct. 31. All events are free and open to the public.
The exhibition visually documents the artist’s recognition of patterns that emerged beginning with the birth of her son in 2021 — an experience that brought both joy and struggle.
“As I adjusted to this new reality of motherhood, I found myself overwhelmed by the data surrounding his needs: How much did he eat? Sleep? What were his wake hours?”
To help manage her postpartum anxiety, Johnston began meticulously documenting her observations. She continued to do so after the birth of her daughter in 2023.
“This artwork reflects moments spent feeding them and reclaiming that time by observing the beauty of the relationships, rather than the monotony of counting minutes and ounces,” she said. “This observation of lengths of time and search for preciousness within that time that I hope viewers can relate to.”
About the artist
Johnston holds a Bachelor of Arts from Belhaven University and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Wichita State University. Her artwork has been showcased in Kansas, Indiana, Washington, Tennessee and Oklahoma, and internationally in Australia and Japan.
About the gallery
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, email Director of Steckline Gallery Emily Ritter at [email protected].
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