Two veteran student artists were selected to showcase their artwork at an annual Veterans Day celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Victor Enriquez, a senior fine arts and creative writing major, showed two of his paintings, which focus on realism and muted colors with a pop of color. “BreadBodyMilkHoney” features a glass of wine, a jar of honey, an apple and broken bread, and “Wisdom Over Fire” features a girl in a purple dress floating above a fiery ground.
“For ‘BreadBodyMilkHoney,’ there’s a lot of striving for self-improvement, and I think when we nourish ourselves in safe and loving relations—I think that provides more healing than reading a self-improvement book,” said Enriquez, a Marine veteran.
“Wisdom Over Fire” is about wrestling with information and identity while looking for a new way of understanding or seeing the world, he said.
Jevon Covington, a senior graphic design major and Army veteran, showed two photographs titled “ARTFORM” and “Harold Series 1,” as well as a collage of photography books he wrote and edited onto clear film strips titled “Art in Motion.”
The two photographs depict reconstructed images. A few were pixelized to create artwork that felt different from the originals he borrowed from. “Art in Motion” is a mix of clean photography with musical sheets and lamps, among other objects.
“Everything I’m doing is just trying to be better,” said Covington, reflecting on his art.
More than 30 people gathered on the fifth floor of the Student Center to see the artwork and celebrate Columbia’s veterans at the event hosted by Student Engagement and Leadership.
Veterans Day originally began as Armistice Day in 1919 and was designated a federal holiday by President Woodrow Wilson. It was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
“We want to honor their sacrifice and celebrate their participation in our community,” said Kristi Beltran, the director of Student Engagement and Leadership.
Beltran said it is important to offer opportunities where veterans and students who are not part of that community can celebrate those who are.
Columbia currently does not have a student veteran organization.
Morgan Williams, a junior marketing major and Army veteran, wanted to meet other veterans at the event and to establish a connection with the community.
“I hope that Columbia keeps doing what they’re doing,” Williams said. “I think it’s very inclusive, and there are lots of subcultures here, so I’m happy to see that.”
Carlos Diaz, assistant director of Student Activities and an Army veteran who served in the Illinois National Guard, said it is important for the Columbia community to celebrate veterans.
“They’re an integral part of our society who contribute a lot to our community,” Diaz said.
Diaz said that it meant a lot to be in a room with others who had shared similar experiences and to connect with what makes them similar and unique.
“I think it’s important for the college to recognize the contributions of different students that they’ve made outside of the college before getting to the college,” said Diaz.
Charlotte Johnson, a senior music business major, said she enjoyed seeing the artwork.
“You always want to make sure everybody feels celebrated,” Johnson said.
Copy edited by Camila Verzino
