By Lauren Kraus

Strength, as they say, comes in numbers. When Luther College art students were recently looking for something to meld their imaginative talents together – a bond to intertwine their efforts and passions as they were painting, drawing, creating artwork – they joined forces and formed the Luther Artists Collective.

Established in the fall of 2008, the Luther Artists Collective (LAC) offers cohesion and a distinct art community for keen students in Luther’s art program. The group wanted a supportive place to work on projects, critique each other’s art, put on collective shows and grow artistically. LAC, in fine democratic fashion, elects officials each year including a president, vice president, head of publications, secretary, treasurer and even a trip planner. Last April they visited Chicago and toured the Art Institute and various galleries and sculptures the city has to offer.

Ben Moore, assistant professor in the art department, serves as the group’s advisor. He’s impressed with the work that’s happening in the Luther art scene.

“There was always this separation before – they didn’t really know each other,” Moore says. “But now they do, and they have become more dedicated in their art. Having a place where they can discuss their art is crucial to being an artist. These students are organizing and developing their own shows – and the work they’re doing isn’t course work. They are behaving as artists rather than student artists.”

The Collective is well on its way to establishing itself as a fixture at Luther College. They are proud of their efforts and hope to attract younger students to carry on the LAC legacy into future years. Two art shows in the college’s Student Union gallery have helped to bring attention to their work as a collective. “Trash & Salvation,” LAC’s 2009 fall exhibit examined a juxtaposition the group saw prevalent in today’s society. The artists’ statement said: “Trash is composed of the objects that civilization throws away and forgets, while salvation is the lofty ideal pursued in some fashion by most human beings. Trash & Salvation seeks to observe and develop the idea of the two opposed concepts inhabiting the same space and time.”

In addition to their shows, LAC holds art sales in Luther’s Union. These sales are a great venue to purchase quality student art work including pottery, paintings, drawings, jewelry, and knit goods at a low price. The next sale will be this spring, with details to come.

Art has great impact on the Driftless Region and these students are honing in on that influence as much as they can. Be on the lookout for ways to support their work or see their shows. Luther’s art galleries are open to the public and constantly displaying awesome work. See galleries.luther.edu for details.

Members of LAC are certainly not slacking in any way. Check out a few here and find out what inspire(d) them to create art.

Laurel Whitis: Biology/Art major
Favorite medium: Oil painting.
Started getting into art: Her first art class ever was during her last year of high school.
Current project: Her senior art show for Luther. She was inspired by a histology class where they spent the entire time looking at cells under a microscope. Her show will display several pieces depicting specific cells with an informative write-up next to the painting. “It will be an educational show,” she explains. Both her biology and art professors will be her advisors for the exhibit.
Inspired by: Being around other people working on art. Also, Decorah is a very accepting place for artists!
Future plans: Medical school, being an artist on the side.

Astri Snodgrass: Art/Spanish major
Favorite medium: Oil painting.
Started getting into art: She’s a true lifer. Astri’s mom is an art teacher and has influenced her involvement in art since she was little.
Current project: Portraits. They are a good challenge, and capturing expressions and interactions between people is her goal. Astri is also working on a nightmare/dream series where she paints two panels: one depicts someone sleeping and the other shows a nightmare they are having. This series allows Astri to explore her interest in the subconscious. Her portraits are currently on display at the Oneota Community Food Co-op, go check it out.
Inspired by: The people at Luther! Her work is all about people.
Future plans: Graduate school in painting.

Ryan Kitchen: Art major, Philosophy minor
Favorite medium: Oil painting.
Started getting into art: He really got serious about art at Luther.
Current project: Conceptual landscapes. Ryan loves studying the spaces and places we typically take for granted and how we, as people, interact with our surroundings, our environment. He enjoys watching “French new-wave” films and painting scenes from those movies.
Inspired by: The environment, as well as people, poetry, literature, interactions, movies.
Future plans: Something with art – perhaps graduate school in art or maybe teaching at the collegiate level.

 Lauren Kraus loves art, especially local art. She also loves French toast, avocados, yoga and sunshine. It is a great time of year for all of the above. Not as much sunshine, though.