By Daniella Akwanamnye
CSC College Relations
CHADRON – Chadron State College’s Art department invites the public to attend the Universe Unfolding art show by Yelena Khanevskaya in Memorial Hall’s Main Gallery. The new exhibition is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and ends Dec. 15.
Universe Unfolding is an exhibit of painting and mixed media including the centerpiece Creative Agony, an acrylic painting, Devil in Blue Dress, and mixed media collage, Gaea Creating Herself.
According to Khanevskaya’s artist’s statement, she was inspired to create the Universe Unfolding painting from conversations with her friends about self-perception and body image. Khanevskaya, an Art Instructor at Western Nebraska Community College, said she uses her own body to portray the universe concealed in everyone, just waiting to be revealed.
Universe Unfolding portrays the idea that each one of us is a universe, ready to burst, at the right prompt, with energy, love, knowledge, and share it with the world.
“While using my own body image for this piece, I made the gender somewhat obscure on purpose, hoping to express that this notion is present in anyone and everyone,” Khanevskaya wrote in her artist statement.
Khanevskaya received her first art training in Children’s Art School in Novomoskovsk, Russia. Then she studied in Oryol State Pedagogical University, where she learned drawing, painting, and sculpting techniques and completed her master’s degree.
Before coming to the U.S., Khanevskaya worked as a silk artist. She has had solo exhibits at the West Nebraska Arts Center, Carnegie Arts Center, Norfolk Arts Center, Burkholder Project, and others.