Radford University Art Museum hosts faculty artist

The Radford University Art Museum recognizes the artistic accomplishments of Radford University faculty and staff, with the latest exhibition that features artwork by Lee Coburn, director of Creative and Marketing Services in the Office of University Relations.

The exhibition, titled “Finding a Voice: Articulation in Silence,” features Coburn’s current artwork, supplemented by sketches and early inspiration and runs from Oct. 5 to Nov. 16. Coburn sifted through visual journals from 1992 to the present, will line the gallery walls alongside the current work.

“All the older journal items are near current artwork so the viewer gets an idea of the art’s origin,” Coburn said. “You’ll see references and ways to connect the dots from the seeds of inspiration to the recent work. Viewers will see pieces of my artistic journey.”

More than 50 pieces of Coburn’s original artwork and over 70 journal pages will be on display at the exhibition. Coburn said that the desire for human interaction, communication and connection largely inspired his work.

“Finding your voice is at the heart of it,” he said. “How do I say things when words fail? That’s often what I’m trying to express in my art. People want me to talk about it, but sometimes that turns the art into something that it isn’t. I’m hoping that people see the art and are able to interpret it into their own lives.

“There are a lot of nuances in the art,” Coburn continued. “There are many different themes in each piece. Depending on your emotional state or place in life when viewing the art, you’ll find that different themes will resonate.”

A reception and art talk for “Finding a Voice: Articulation in Silence” will be at 5 p.m. on Oct. 5 at the Radford University Art Museum Downtown.