Experience Reveal
From November 2018 through February 2019 Atrium Art invited visitors to step into the timeless experience of revelation and discovery once again through art. Reveal featured large-scale ceramic artwork by studio artist Whitney Forsyth, who is a long-time church member and served as an associate professor of art at the University of Tulsa for 17 years.
Over 6,000 colorful ceramic petals cascaded through each of the six arched niches in the First Presbyterian Church atrium, forming intricate waves and swirls in a dazzling array of bright colors twenty feet high. Several smaller installations were also on display around the church, including an eight-foot circular mandala located in the Prayer Room.
“When you give an artist a space like the Atrium, there are so many visual possibilities. The architecture, stained glass windows, and natural light are an incredible inspiration and back drop to exhibit art.”
– Whitney Forsyth
As we consider the relationship between faith and art, First Presbyterian Church Co-pastor Dr. Moore reminds us of another Biblical term, to behold: “The idea of beholding is not about just observation but also about entering into and being transformed. Good art does that.”
About the Artist
Whitney Forsyth is a member of First Presbyterian Church, a ceramic studio artist, and accomplished art professor.
She grew up in Manitou Springs, Colorado and began working with clay at an early age. She has a BFA from Oklahoma State University and a MFA from New Mexico State University. Whitney is also passionate about equipping and inspiring a new generation of ceramic artists, and for 17 years, she served as an associate professor of art at the University of Tulsa.
Her ceramic work has been exhibited in museums, galleries, and art centers, as well as private and public art collections throughout the United States. Notable past exhibitions include shows at the Gardener Art Gallery at OSU in Stillwater; the 108 Contemporary Gallery in Tulsa, OK; the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, AR; the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, CA; the City Arts Center in Oklahoma City; the Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville, TN; the Landmarks Art Gallery at Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX; and many more.