Troppus Projects, a locally owned independent art space in downtown Kent, Ohio, will be hosting new works by 鶹Ƶ Assistant Professor of Design Larrie King. The exhibition, titled “Line of Sight: 2020,” is a continuation of a series of mixed-media paintings completed by King last year. The opening reception will take place on March 6, 2020, from 5-7pm, and is open to the public. The work will be on display in downtown Kent throughout the month of March. Troppus Projects is owned and operated by artist Kelly Dietrick, and was opened in 2017.
King’s paintings are vibrant, detailed, and atmospheric. The artist states “This new series of paintings is an expression of the complexity of rebirth. I believe that through the power of our humanity, each of us can overcome obstacles, transcend our circumstances, and find our personal heavens.” King uses acrylic paint, combined with small found objects, ephemera ranging from fifty years to over one hundred years old, gold leafing, and more to create each piece. “I enjoy painting common birds, like sparrows. Sparrows are all around us, and I think that can be special if you want it to be. I envision them as little disguised protectors, or heralds of the very heavens we each dream of for ourselves.”
The art show coincides with Kent Rainbow Weekend, an LGBTQ-inclusive celebration of the city of Kent’s diverse community taking place in downtown Kent March 6 and 7. King has helped to organize the weekend of events by serving as a committee member, and by providing graphic design through his students at Glyphix Studio.
Glyphix Studio, also located in downtown Kent, has been a part of the 鶹Ƶ School of Visual Communication Design for nearly fifty years. King has served as the design studio’s Creative Director for the past six, working with undergraduate and graduate design students along the way. The studio’s current projects include work the ID13 Prison Literacy Project, organized by Christopher Dum and Halle Niederman (both of 鶹Ƶ), and work for the May 4 Visitors Center fiftieth commemoration of the 鶹Ƶ shooting.
“My students and I have the privilege of handling this monumental facet of not just 鶹Ƶ’s history, but that of our country. The students of Glyphix Studio learn how to work with a client while navigating the complexities of our history, with the result taking the shape of intimate exhibitions that honor the lives of those lost or affected by the tragedy on our campus. It is a sometimes difficult, often reflective, and unsurprisingly emotional process.” For more information on the upcoming May 4 Visitors Center exhibits, please visit www.kent.edu/may4visitorscenter.