Lean named first resident artist at University of Mount Olive
By From staff reports
Published in News on September 4, 2014 1:46 PM
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Larry D. Lean
MOUNT OLIVE -- Larry D. Lean has been appointed as the first Artist in Residence for the University of Mount Olive.
A professor of art and visual communications, Lean has taught at the university since 1987.
"I am honored that I have been selected for this position," Lean said. "I will be the first Artist in Residence at University of Mount Olive, and hopefully it is a position that can be continued for many years to come. We have excellent faculty members in our departments of fine arts, music, and language and literature that are well qualified to serve as Artist in Residence."
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Lean will be charged with promoting the arts at the university.
"Our university has had an excellent history of programs in art, music, poetry, creative writing and other arts," he said. "We need to showcase these programs so the public will have the opportunity to see our wonderful talents. I will be working with various departments and programs in the arts at the University to do that."
Most Artist in Residence positions culminate with the artist having a closing show. Lean, on the other hand, is starting his role with the opening of his show titled "Too Many Crowns," which is on display until Sept. 28.
The opening reception will be held this Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Teresa Pelt Grubbs Gallery in Laughinghouse Hall.
"'Too Many Crowns' is an exhibit about the voice within me that speaks and the imagination that creates," Lean said.
The show will include about 20 paintings, all completed since May of this year.
"They range from 'illustrative' to 'very painterly,' and yet there is a unique thread that runs through them all," Lean said. "It will challenge some who come with a very narrow interpretation of what fine art should be. In this way, I hope it will educate the public."
Lean said he hopes that individuals that visit his show take away the message that art is an individual pursuit
"There are not rules when it comes to creativity," Lean said. "We, as artist, are conditioned by our education to feel as though we must create images in a certain way.
"It is hard to break loose of the academic context and create freely and yet it is that freedom that reflects our creativity. I try my best to teach my students to listen to the voice within them. I want them to create and reflect their voices, not mine."
The Artist in Residence position came about because of a discussion with university President Dr. Philip P. Kerstetter, Lean said.
"Phil and Mary are very interested in and supportive of the arts," Lean said. "We have had discussions about what this position could do for the university and how it could advance the arts. I was offered the position this summer and agreed to accept the challenge."
Lean said that one of his first objectives will be to educate the public about what the university has to offer.
"We need to educate the public about the value of having the arts in their lives," Lean said. "The arts have a way of inspiring us and bridging gaps between different groups of people. They are a connective tissue that can eliminate the differences between ages, races, religions and cultures. It is imperative that we use the arts as a means of bringing people together."
Last year, the university started a program called the Fine Arts Circle. It is made up of a group of individuals who work to promote the cultural, social, and economic importance of the arts to the community at large, by not only participating in fine arts gatherings, but also by helping to support them.
"People are always wondering what they can do to help at the university and I believe the Fine Arts Circle is a grand opportunity to contribute to an effort that, in return, provides so much to the community," Lean said. "Art events, music events and poetry festivals are all free and open to the public, but they don't come without cost.
"The contributions to the Fine Arts Circle will provide additional funds to help support many of these events. We hope to provide more information about becoming a part of the Fine Arts Circle soon. If interested in this opportunity, people can call the university and inquire about contributing."
For more information about the Fine Arts Circle, or about Lean's show, "Too Many Crowns," call 919-658-2502 or visit www.umo.edu.