NIARUS BENJAMIN WALKER

NIARUS BENJAMIN WALKER, CARIBBEAN ARTIST & ART EDUCATOR

​

January 13, 2018

Artist and Art Educator Niarus Benjamin Walker presented her artwork to her art students at the Peachcan Gallery in Christiansted, on December 20th.  Mrs. Walker is originally from Dominica, WI and has been creating works of art since 1994. Currently, a teacher at the St. Croix Central High School, she has been an art educator for twenty-three years, earning a MS in Art Education sometime in between those years from Florida State University.

----------

Upon arrival, the 10th and 11th grade Art students walked around and observed their teacher’s artwork before she presented.

The exhibit, while it contains some 49 pieces of art works, is presented as three installations; In Contemplation of the Collective Consciousness, (also the title of the exhibition) Weapons of My Warfare and Trappings.

----------

Mrs. Walker spoke about the theme of her collection ‘In Contemplation of the Collective Consciousness’. “I’m making a qualitative statement about our society. The figures I’ve chosen to portray are recognizable to everyone. They are iconic people,” she explained. The figures included President Donald Trump, Alexander Hamilton, Bill Cosby, Mother Theresa and some not so well-known people, such as George, a street person who passed away this past November.  

“I recognized a humanity in George that inspired me to create a work of art from his image. In the images I have made of George, he is handsome and dignified. The so-called “degenerates,” homeless and mentally ill, are all around us, they are our friends and part of our family and I wanted to bring recognition to him as a representative of part of our society,” described Mrs. Walker.

---------

 The image of a random child suggests that everyone represented here in this exhibition, was once a child.  Some grew up to be famous, infamous, notorious, and to do great things. In the public eye, some did great acts and behind closed doors terrible things,” she explained. Her inspiration for the collection comes from her interest in the social media concept: judging people. “How do you live without making judgments? What does that mean? Doesn’t calling someone judgmental mean that you are making a judgment on their character?”  Other concepts presented within the work is the consideration of

“What is good or bad? By whose criteria do we determine what is good or bad?”

----------

Our governor is a controversial figure who recently received backlash for his intention to burn the debris from Hurricane Maria. Nelson Mandela did some atrocities. One of the things he said, was that he was a fallible human and warned that he did not wish to be put on a pedestal. “All these people have supporters and detractors. Those who vehemently agree and oppose the principles for which they stand,” said Mrs. Walker.  She spoke about her painting of Vladimir Putin. “I wanted the viewer to focus on his sly, foxy expression.”

-----------

Mrs. Walker uses wax transfer process technique to create some of the pieces. The process involves lots of research for the right individual, although some were intuitive.  “I create a preliminary color blocking collage on a substrate and then layer that with wax. The images I used were manipulated in PhotoShop and transferred onto the wax, wetted, then rubbed. It is a sensual and magical feeling to see the image emerge after a rubbing.”  

-----------

Although the images within the exhibition appear thematically different, the entire premise of the show is unified not only by technique, but in a continuation of an idea that is not one-dimensional.  

Specific themes in Christianity—truth, prayer, faith, righteousness, peace are represented in Weapons of My Warfare. She wants highlight the fact that good is relative and what does not appear good to some may appear good to others, and that those “weapons” listed above are some of what she uses to navigate this current culture.

-----------

Trappings is a painting based on the 17th century genre of Vanitas paintings. “I love painting Still lifes because I like the challenge that they pose. I also like the possibility of imbuing those objects with meaning, by the juxtaposing of disparate objects” she explained.  Vanitas painting began in the 16th-17th Century in the Netherlands. This technique involves symbolism of objects.  Many of the objects within a Vanitas, such as a timepiece, a recently snuffed candle, glass, a human skull, etc., usually represented the frailty of life, things passing away; the idea of mortality and immortality. Niarus explained that Trappings reflect the idea that we collect objects that represent us or are dear to us. Sometimes we leave them for our loved ones after we pass. Sometimes they throw them away, sometimes they are burdened with those “things” for life, a feeling of guilt about discarding them.

-----------

Sometimes you’re entrapped by this need for collecting objects. The hurricane just passed and many people lost things and we’re happy we have our lives.

The painting is composed of various ‘Vanitas,’ if you will, and represents a collection. You can’t have one piece without the rest so you have to take the entire ‘collection.’ The painting is meant to be transcendental and at the same time physical.

Niarus expounded on the emotional process involved in creating. For the most part, an artist puts their personal being into their art. “It’s heart-wrenching and personal for me to make artwork. A part of me goes with my work.  At the end of a piece, I don’t like it and I’m glad to see it go. It’s carthatic.  You don’t want to make a piece of art too personal. It must be relatable. People have to take away some meaning and as an artist you communicate an idea, but you also make it visually appealing so someone can appreciate it as well. For the most part though I think we all have relatable struggles in this human condition.”

She then explained the struggle to maintain a work-life balance to her students. “As a woman, being an artist, wife, mother and teacher it’s difficult to manage all these things. It took me 3 months to paint the Vanitas painting,” said Mrs. Walker.

-----------

 Time management and not being stretched too thin between her responsibilities is a big challenge. She also credited becoming a teacher to improving her artistic skills. To teach a technique, she must master it herself. As a teacher, this has been most important in preparing lesson plans for her students. Helping students physically represent abstract ideas physically has provided invaluable learning.

Mrs. Walker shared with her students that  understanding the business side of being a professional in any industry is very important. Keeping in touch with collectors and building a clientele is necessary.  She disclosed that collectors are people who have more than one of her pieces and the need to keep producing works of art so that her client's work has value; not to saturate the market, but to make work that is important and necessary. 

Niarus also curates shows for other artists at the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in Frederiksted. Niarus would like to transition to painting full time. That’s all I ever wanted to be: An Artist.

-----------

She is hoping to do a few residencies and expanding out of St. Croix. One goal for the newyear is to have a website. You can find her pieces at Top Hat in Christiansted and email her at niarus_art@yahoo.com for inquiries.

Still craving more information about  culture & arts? Subscribe now to get all the news sent directly to your inbox.