The Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center at Stetson welcomes the public to its Faculty Biennale exhibit, on view until Saturday, Feb. 22.

Drawing from the Creative Arts Department, the MFA of the Americas, and the Department of Education, the exhibit features Leah Sandler, Matt Roberts, Nathan Wolek, Justin Quaid Grubb, Chaz Underriner, Terri Witek, Cyriaco Lopes, Brianna Angelakis, Steven Benson, Martha Underriner, Molly Koehn and Rajni Shankar-Brown.

As you enter the museum, you are greeted by an array of artworks — including photography, drawings, sculptures, embroidery, paintings and sound installations.

Each artist draws inspiration from different aspects of life. For example, Context Collage: Vienna 2024 by Chaz Underriner, PhD, associate professor of Digital Arts, takes visitors on a journey. Commissioned by TONSPUR in cooperation with Fulbright Austria, the piece brings to light scenes and sounds from Vienna, New York, Louisiana and Florida. Another captivating piece is a photography projection by Steven Benson that depicts the complex yet beautiful process of construction.

Continuing the theme of transformation, Brianna Angelakis, adjunct professor of Studio Art, presents The Prophet, a large-scale drawing that reimagines failure as a gateway to creativity. The artwork begins with a crumpled piece of paper, a symbol of failure, which the artist transforms into a surreal world filled with fragments of past works. Angelakis weaves together “elements of failed drawings, paintings and textiles, with her self-portrait as a focal point … to dissolving linear perspective,” thus inviting viewers to see “the white negative space as a realm of endless possibilities — a metaphor for the unconscious.”

Rajni Shankar-Brown, PhD, professor and Jessie Ball duPont Endowed Chair of Social Justice Education, a brilliant Artivist — artist and activist — brings another perspective to the exhibit by infusing her works with profound emotion and social action.

While all her pieces are beautifully crafted, one that is sure to capture your attention is the painting Aspiring Soulscape: आनन्द (Ānanda). As the artist explains, “the essence of the piece is to inspire smiles and evoke a feeling of being bathed in the warmth, light and peace of loving-kindness, inclusivity and authentic belonging.” With each brushstroke, she infused soulful wishes of love, joy, peace, and hope, making this painting not just a visual experience, but a meditation on interconnectedness and resilience.

These works represent only a fraction of the artistic talent displayed at the Hand Art Center. By visiting, you gain a deeper appreciation of each artist’s unique perspective and creative process. The exhibit offers a glimpse into the immense artistic value contributed by Stetson’s faculty.

– Tiwa Adebayo