Steckline Gallery will present “Flight Safety and How Not to Drown” by artist Yulla Vega during a First Friday exhibition from 5-7 p.m., April 4, at Newman University.
The exhibition will be on display April 3-25. An Art for Lunch, which includes a discussion with the artist and pizza lunch for Newman students, is April 3 from noon to 1 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.
About the exhibit
Vega describes her exhibition is inspired by both navigating a collapsing economy and sustaining a solid place to live.
“It relates to the struggles of existing paycheck to paycheck, house to house, or couch to couch for those living on the edge of collapse,” she said.
“Flight Safety” references fleeing from one situation to the next in the hopes that a new circumstance is better, while “How Not to Drown” refers to the hope of being safe, despite a “looming fear of full homelessness or becoming forgotten,” Vega explained.
“Transitional homelessness, or the lack of a place to settle and call home, is the central idea of these works,” she said. “Upon conversing with many people in this situation, the question arises: Is this a problem creatives face in particular?”
In order to help others navigate these situations, Vega said it is “more important than ever” to develop small communities and networks in which people mutually support and check in on one another while learning to ask for help.
“Sometimes over and over,” she said.
About the artist
Vega’s unique journey is reflected in her work. Born with the name Jessica Vega, she was born in Wellington, Kansas, and had always wanted to become an artist. A lonely childhood due to selective mutism encouraged her creativity as an outlet. As an adult, Vega accidentally married into a cult, which ended in divorce. She escaped with her baby to Wichita in the pursuit of a job in art and to live life more fully.
She worked for years as a portrait artist, then in organ donation, then as an aerialist. Vega studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, Cowley College, and completed the Artist INC program. Today she is an artist, teacher at Mark Arts and a project manager for a local community garden group. She recently changed her name to Yulla Faun Vega.
Ways to view more work and show support:
- Instagram: @Edward_Faun
- Patreon.com/ProjectDoe
About the Steckline 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 rittere@newmanu.edu.
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