“A Call to Conscience”: Martin Luther King Jr. Art Exhibit at the Chehalem Cultural Center

When local Newberg artist and George Fox University professor Marvin Eans contemplates the importance of community in relation to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, two words come to mind: unity and love.

These two values played significant roles in the creation of Eans’ current exhibit at the Chehalem Cultural Center, titled “A Call to Conscience: Reflecting and Embracing the Work of Martin Luther King Jr.” The exhibit features a three-part art piece centered around celebrating and reflecting on the life and work of the prominent civil rights advocate.

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Eans said. “If there is anything I want the exhibit to portray, it is the love and dedication that MLK Jr. displayed for all of humanity.”

The exhibit seeks to establish a partnership between the Cultural Center, George Fox University, and the university’s art and design program. Similarly, it aims to engage community members and allow them to participate in the creation of art.

“Our primary objective was to craft a space that seamlessly merged invitation with education through our collective body of work,” Eans said.

The show was scheduled to be part of the Cultural Center’s annual MLK Jr. celebration on January 15, 2024, but a snow and ice storm during that time forced organizers to cancel the event. Despite the cancellation, the exhibit remained open and available to the public throughout the month to showcase Eans’ artwork and celebrate the legacy and work of Dr. King.

The gallery features three different parts, with one piece—a mosaic—encouraging direct community participation. The other two parts include multiple mixed media artworks by Eans and a timeline of Dr. King’s life and activism.

Believing in Community

“Embracing our differences as that is what makes us all unique and beautiful,” Eans said. “But without true community, we can’t thrive.”

Since the exhibit is centered around the life and work of Dr. King, Eans felt it was important to tangibly involve the community, as much of Dr. King’s philosophy focused on creating and fostering community.

“I believe that MLK Jr. was about bringing people together from all walks of life,” Eans said. “The mosaic piece in the exhibit gives the community a chance to gather and participate by leaving their own marks through unified words of affirmation, hope, love, and peace.”

The mosaic invites participants to write down what they “believe” for their community, and messages can range from simple one-word responses to longer, more specific beliefs. All participants are encouraged to add a tile with their written beliefs to the mosaic wall to illustrate the hopes, dreams, and ambitions of the Newberg community.

Additionally, Eans collaborated with two George Fox University Graphic Design majors, Keyan Parker and Giang Huynh, for this project.

“I assisted with the art direction of the timeline for Keyan and Giang, and then they began to focus on the timeline aspect while I concentrated on the paintings,” Eans said.

Eans described the collaborative process as relying largely on “intuition,” as well as drawing on the works and literature of Dr. King directly.

The inclusion of student artists allowed the process to develop naturally and created a direct link between the George Fox Art and Design program and the Chehalem Cultural Center.

Regarding the growing art community in Newberg, Eans believes that these connections are vital for its growth and flourishing.

“Newberg is a very resourceful location,” Eans said, “Organizations such as the Chehalem Cultural Center have done an excellent job of welcoming artists and creatives. Continuing the acts of welcoming and belonging is key.”

A reception featuring Marvin Eans and his artwork will be held on Friday, February 16, at the Chehalem Cultural Center’s Parrish Gallery from 5-7 p.m. The art exhibit will be open to the public until February 29, 2024.

To learn more about the exhibit and the upcoming reception, visit the Cultural Center website.