The Art of Why
Bethel University students and alumni answer the “why” behind their art.
By Taylor Fondie, Tatiana Lee, Josh Sanchelli, Josie Shaw and Leah Vigil
Kokou Kah stood in the kitchen of his uncle’s house. As a kid, the sound of hip-hop intrigued Kah as it traveled through the house. He remembers listening to music with his grandmother while traveling in Liberia.
Naturally, it became his art.
Kah, 25, of North Minneapolis, graduated from Bethel University in 2017 with an English literature and writing major. He was born in Liberia and later was adopted by a couple who lives in Roseville. Kah started Ozone Creations, a hub for Afro Fusion music, and works as an Intervention Specialist at Richfield Middle School, as well as the Beacon Boys and Girls Club as a music instructor.
To Kah, art is the expression of his humanity. He finds his inspiration from the introspective experience he has interacting with the world beyond himself. He learns from others. He doesn’t accept plain words such as good or bad to resemble his music.
For Kah, music expresses more than feelings, thoughts and actions.
The biggest challenge he faces is looking like a mainstream artist who degrades women, puts down other people,and tells stories that aren’t unifying. His most recent song “Never Alone. Casually Lit.” shares the story of how Kah raised himself and in doing so turned off the world around him in order to survive.
His favorite artist is Tupac, “He found what he believed in and made that into his art form, strong enough to influence generations beyond him,” Kah said.
His upcoming project is called Northwest. It is an accumulation of his northern upbringing (United States/Minnesota) and his Liberian heritage combined into one sound that he calls “Afro Fusion.” For a better understanding of how this mix sounds, find his music on Spotify.
His why? His reason for his art?: to break down barriers between women and men, races, genders, sexualities and every other divide there may be. The problem with that is one song or one album can’t fix those divides all at once.
“I’m learning to hone in on the big issues of our time and also mix in my story from the life I’ve lived in order to give a different picture others may not have but can connect with,” Kah said.
That’s Kay’s why behind his art.
At the Dec. 3 annual Design Club Holiday Bazaar Sale, Bethel University Art and Design students, also explain the why behind their art as they sold it. Here are their answers:
Barrett Jamison, an electrical engineering major and computer science minor, discovered his love of art when he was a kid.
What is art to you?
To me it might be something that I find beautiful that somebody else spent time on. The world around us is art because God made it, he spent time on it, he sees it as beautiful, I agree with that. So I think of art as something that somebody else made that they think is beautiful.
How did you get started with art?
I’ve always done artistic stuff. Growing up I would always color and draw. Then about four or five years ago, I picked up woodwork and realized that was really easy for me and I loved doing it.
Where do you find inspiration?
I really find inspiration from the world around me and from other people. The candles I made here, I saw somewhere else, and I was like “Oh I can make that.” A lot of it comes from wanting to build things. I love working with my hands and I need something to do with that, so this is what I came up with.
What is your favorite art project?
A table software. It’s a tool but to me it’s art because I put a lot of time into it and I think it’s really beautiful. Somebody else would see it as just a tool but to me it’s art and it could make a sculpture.
What is a challenge you face?
Figuring out how to build specific things. Going about how to cut stuff out and design it all and doing it time efficiently.
What kind of art do you usually do?
I really like to decorative art. I like making necklaces and lots of kinds of candles. I like to make things that people can do things with.
Who would you say is your favorite artist?
I would say God because I get most of my inspiration from the world around me, which He created.
Ashely Peifer, an adjunct art professor with an MFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design, says she is able to create art and stress less about money because her husband works in IT.
What is art to you?
Art is in the little things throughout my everyday. I’m always thinking about art. I’m currently reading a book called The Artist Way.
How did you get started with art?
I remember a story my mom tells, of when I was three, I painted something abstract. With reds, and yellows and called it autumn. But when I was in 6th grade, I was in a painting class and the teacher told me that I wasn’t very good. I didn’t do any art again until my senior year of high school. Then in college, I was first an accounting major, at Taylor University because I liked math and was good at it. But I had to take an art class so I took drawing, and that’s when I found my “ flow state”. Which is a state in which time just flies by when you’re doing something you enjoy, and I found that I was in my flow state whenever I was doing something creative, so I switched to art.
Where do you find inspiration?
Normally, I find it in a variety of places. Currently it’s my daughter, she’s five, and just to watch her face wonder about the world around her. When she paints, there isn’t a care in the world about how it’s going to turn out.
What is your favorite art project?
I had a show at Galleria Daniele Agostini in Lugano, Switzerland. That was about 3 years ago, and there are still a few pieces of mine left that haven’t been sold yet.
What is a challenge you face?
Money. It can be difficult for an artist to make money. Sometimes you sell a lot of your work for thousands of dollars, other times it might not be any at all.
What kind of art do you usually do?
I do mixed media. So I might paint something, and then have objects sticking out of the painting. I also do textile work, turning my paintings into textiles so I can print more than just one painting. There is also a possibility that I get to work with Gorman’s, an Australian clothing company. I would design textiles for a kids clothing line. I haven’t signed a contract or anything, but this kind of fell into my lap, so I am still deciding.
Who would you say is your favorite artist?
Of all time, that would be Richard Tuttle. He has some weird work, and it’s never the same. My cat’s name is Tuttle, after him. Like 2017 Ashley loved Tuttle, and 2020 Ashley will still love him. But also those who have happy and joyful works of art. That use lots of colors and make their work stand out.
Halle Rittgers, an art major, hopes to have a store one day with her twin sister, Hadley.
What is art to you?
Art is something meaningful that comes from the heart but also your experience and something more than just making a mark on a sheet of paper. Art is a creative aspect to life, and is worship and a creative outlet for me. Art is something that means a lot to me, and is hard to put into words because the aesthetic emotion with it.
How did you get started with art?
There wasn’t an initial start phase. I have always loved art, and would do it as a little girl. I dreamed of being an artist. My parents helped me a lot by getting art supplies. Everytime I had free time I would want to do a craft.
Where do you find inspiration?
I found a lot of inspiration from experiences I have had. So experiences in nature or with people. When I get into the zone at the studio I will turn my worship music on. Sometimes my inspiration is off of how I feel and how God leads me into what I should make. Also, when creating art it is seen as a worship experience.
What is a challenge you face?
Talking about my art is a challenge. Finding the words to explain your art and that is always going to be a challenge but I think with working with my art and working on a specific project/concentration speaking becomes easier.
Megan Olson graduated in 2019 with a Graphic Design & Art major from Bethel University. Olson resides in the Twin Cities and currently works for Pulse as a Graphic Designer.
What is art to you?
Art is honestly the best outlet for me. It helps me express emotion, like a poet expresses through words. The images or work that I create do not necessarily visually reflect those emotions, but I guess it is an escape for me. I become so focused on just making that I forget what else is going on around me.
How did you get started with art?
I’ve had a crayon or a paint brush in my hand ever since I can remember. I have always been the “artsy” one and I think I tried every method of creating that Michael’s craft store had to offer as a kid. My family has always encouraged me to create and have supported me in my excitement to try something new. My art teacher in junior high really emphasized to me that I had great ideas and she was eager to push me to use those gifts. It is so important for people at a young age to be encouraged by those around them to pursue the things they’re passionate about.
Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration kind of hits me from random places. Sometimes I notice patterns in day-to-day things, like the leaves of a plant or even the cracks on the sidewalk, and I will take a picture of it and go back and trace over it and create my own pattern. I love Pinterest and Instagram to see what things other artists are creating too.
What is your favorite art project?
I think my favorite medium is paint. Recently, I have really loved to plan my paintings digitally and then transfer them onto a canvas.
What is a challenge you face?
Working in a creative field full time can cause anyone to get burnt out and to stray away from their own practice. I work as a Graphic Designer for Pulse, and I love my work, but will get creative blocks when it comes time to create for myself. If I’m constantly problem-solving for work, I will easily forget to think of and work on my own work. I love to draw, paint, and design as a method to decompress from the stresses of life. I think the other challenge is just to remember that my own work is separate from my professional work.
What kind of art do you usually do?
I am a Graphic Designer full-time. I love to paint, illustrate, create patterns, printmaking and design for fun as well!
Who would you say is your favorite artist?
I’m constantly inspired by Ashley Mary, she’s a painter and designer from Minneapolis and her work is always so fun and exciting to me. She creates paintings and prints for people to hang in their homes, as well as large scale murals for stores, coffee shops, etc. I also love Heather Day’s paintings.
Brenna Martin is a graphic design major at Bethel University.
What is art to you?
Art is a way of making the world a beautiful place and expressing yourself.
How did you get started with art?
My mom is a very artistic person and at the school I went to they always had an art class that I’d go to every year. My mom was very artsy and my dad very sciencey so I had always had a balance between the two.
What is your favorite art project?
I’m really proud of self portrait I did with adobe because my major is graphic design.
What kind of art do you usually do?
A lot of do-it-yourself small handmade stuff and digital art.
Eleanor Carlson is an Art and BFA major at Bethel.
What is art to you?
An expression of self and the exploration of truth that I discover and work with through elements of nature. Just as a reflection of God and his creation as well
How did you get started with art?
My dad is an artist, although not currently working as one, our house is very much filled with art and so growing up in such an inspirational and beautiful place helped to get me on that path. Junior year of high school, I took a ceramics class and fell in love with how my hands could form functional, beautiful items.
Where do you find inspiration?
Definitely from nature and the beautiful places that I’ve seen as well as just inside. It might sound funny but I get inspired by what I feel and a longing to express my own emotions and curiosities as well.
What is your favorite art project?
I’m taking a book making class at the moment and to put together multiple pieces of work into a book that people can handle and look through, it takes you on a journey. The creation of that book is a journey as well as the experience of it for viewers.
What is a challenge you face?
As a student, not having unlimited funds and resources to create what I want to. And not having the time is a big one. Inspiration at this time in my life is abundant but it’s not having those resources.
What kind of art do you usually do?
A little bit of everything. I love sculpture, really into drawing because it’s so portable, as well as painting. I love exploring images through color.
Who would you say is your favorite artist?
Batiste is definitely one of my favorites but so is Mondrian and Van Gogh, some of those classics
Aimee Kuiper is an art history and biology major.
What is art to you?
More of a process than a product. Art isn’t about the ideas you’re trying to do or the effect you’re trying to make, it’s just you making art as a part of living and that’s why you call yourself an artist.
Where do you find inspiration?
From a lot of places. I really like color, so I’ll go on pinterest and look for the most colorful things. A lot of people as well. I like taking photographs of people, so kind of a mix of stuff.
What is your favorite art project?
I did this giant painting a year ago that was like 7 feet tall. It was a portrait of a lady, I really like that one.
What is a challenge you face?
Buying the stuff that I need to make the art. A lot of the really high quality stuff is so expensive and I want to make high quality art and do big experimental things but as a college student and just as a person in general, I don’t have the budget for all that stuff.
What kind of art do you usually do?
A lot of painting and drawing art, I work a lot with the figure and face. As well as a lot of color based stuff with shape and form.
Hadley Rittgers, a graphic design major, hopes to begin a store with her twin sister, Halle, where 10 percent of the proceeds go towards Oasis for Orphans, an organization in Kenya that provides holistic and spiritual care for orphans.
What is art to you?
A creative outlet to express my emotions and thoughts and all my creative juice.
Where do you find inspiration?
In a lot of fellow artists on instagram. But also the people that I meet, the places I go, and my fellow artists at Bethel.
What is your favorite art project?
Either my 6 foot by 3 foot Fordrey painting of an Alice Neal portrait or my functional pottery like my bowls and mugs.
What is a challenge you face?
Definitely the stigma around starving artists and making sure that my stuff is good enough to support myself if that’s what I want to do in the future.
Who would you say is your favorite artist?
I would say one of my favorites is Alice Neal, she came about I think in the 70s and she started the feminist artist movement and she’s a portrait painter and she’s really awesome.
