SHEENA DeWALL | arts & cultue editor

APU art professors Guy Kinnear and David Carlson team up for an unforgettable evening of art.
photo | KEVIN SMERECNIK
APU art professor Guy Kinnear discusses one of his paintings at the opening receptions. The paintings portray an aspect of humanity's constant wresting through the imperfect life.


The Bluebird Art Gallery in Whittier was buzzing Saturday Sept. 8 as people milled about contemplating the collaborative art show of APU art professors Guy Kinnear and David Carlson. This opening reception and exhibition consisted of figurative paintings by Kinnear and playful sculptures by Carlson.

“This collaboration was originally unplanned and we worked completely independent of one another. It was instigated by the gallery curator.  We had never before thought of seeing our work side by side,” David Carlson said.

The reception had a great turn-out with the gallery packed throughout the evening. People were in deep thought, looking at paintings and sculptures or talking with each other about meanings – peppering a bit of art criticism for the eager ear. The artists themselves were talking all night, their audience captivated by the works and eager to pick the artists’ brains.

“It’s an interesting juxtaposition. Guy’s work is far more provocative; the tone of each painting is fantastic and the poses are intense. Dave’s are instead quirky and playful. They remind me of childhood,” art alumnus Daniel Miller said.

Their art is not just technique. The art reaches into their lives with a depth to their work that is not seen often.  The themes in their work are not just found in their paintings or forms, but are written on their hearts.

Guy Kinnear currently teaches both painting and drawing at APU and lives with both his wife (also an artist) and his son in the city of Azusa. This father, teacher, husband and man of God is actively pursuing his craft beyond the roles he holds in day to day life. “I deeply understand that I can’t teach unless I do this. I must keep all of the things in my life in dialogue,” Guy Kinnear said.

Kinnear’s ‘Artist Statement’ describes the work as exploring the contemporary masculine identity as it’s shaped by the tensions and fusions that exist between the physical and the spiritual. A deep theme in this set of works was ‘wrestling’ and it resonated in all of his works.

“These are all portraits, they are stories about who we are when life doesn’t make sense. These men are wrestling with context and finding their places in gravity,” Kinnear said. The turmoil expressed in his paintings was astounding and even uncomfortable at times - almost spiritual.

The wars waged on Kinnear’s canvas are not fictional. Kinnear only uses male models that he knows from his circle of close friends and family. Through doing this, Kinnear really knows each man’s story and can therefore create through partnership and intimate representation of this model’s identity.

“Because of the relationship Guy has with these people, he can relate to that moment and then turn around to create an expression of that moment. It is interesting knowing the artist and to see his own personal walk and the seasons of life expressed in different tensions,” close friend of Guy Kinnear, Abigail Gaines said.

David Carlson currently teaches both ceramics and sculpture at APU. Carlson also has a busy schedule but finds the time necessary to create in the midst of teaching, home and family life, and other daily stresses and obligations. “Dave has inspired me along with others at APU with a way to be an artist who is Christian, but whose art and material doesn’t necessarily reflect being Christian,” senior art major Amy Bailey said.

“The common theme Guy and I have in our work are the conversations between humankind and there relation to and within their environment,” Carlson said.

According to Carlson’s Artist Statement: play has become an essential part of his artistic journey. His desire is for the works to stimulate free associative and playful thoughts of exploration; a newness of vision in how the world around us can be seen or interpreted. He is a playful sculptor whose childhood is largely the impulse for his artistic process.

“This work covers a period of three years with the majority being done in the past two of the three; it’s the result of being focused and spending time in the studio. You have to make the time a priority even though it may not be convenient, fun, or easy,” Carlson said.

The sculptures featured in this exhibition include the use of old toys, small motors and gears, wood, wire, clay, modeling parts, and found objects. Though the pieces evoke a playful and childlike emotion, the materials used and the ways in which it’s all combined helps to deepen his work.

“It is so important that Guy and Dave do this not only for them to be viewed in their own art, but because they can then come and renew us through their renewed passion,” Bailey said.

These professors are modeling what they are teaching and giving many students hope for their future artistic careers in the process. It is possible to lead a fulfilling life as an artist even when life seems too full and often pushes the artist away from his/her craft.

“You will honestly have to decide what’s most important to you and then make time for it. If you wait for life to give you the time – it won’t happen. Something has to be sacrificed somewhere and that’s something you have to decide,” Kinnear said.

The opening reception for this show made an impression. Not just on the artists friends and family, but on both the current and past APU students that were present. And a word of advice?

“Follow your passions and don’t listen to the negative voices in your head or negative comments from friends or loved ones, because those negative voices are connected to fear,” Carlson said. “It’s hard for God to work with followers who are fearful.”