EXHIBIT // “THE LAST BRUSH OF KUSH”

EXHIBIT // “THE LAST BRUSH OF KUSH”
By Kevin Ledgewood

An exhibit by Northport artist Jennifer Hamner will be hosted by The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa at the Bama Theatre’s Junior League Gallery during October. Titled “The Last Brush of Kush,” it will be composed of seven large format paintings and will be on display Oct. 3 – 31. A reception open to the public will be held at the gallery on Oct. 10 from 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Hamner describes “The Last Brush of Kush” as a series of seven paintings representing the seven days of Creation. The title for this series was chosen because Kush is an ancient African Kingdom that is now known as the modern regions of Aswan, Egypt and Khartoum, Sudan. Art and architecture flourished in this ancient kingdom and presently these areas, particularly Sudan, are known for art. Sudan has a long history of Christianity, but today Christians account for only a very small portion of the predominantly Islamic stronghold. Years of civil unrest have driven Christians and artists in Sudan and surrounding areas into secrecy. Many Christian artists have developed a cultural and religious underground in order to remain safe as they spread their beliefs. Their paintings or other works of art symbolize events or stories in the Bible. Many artists know that if their attempts to spread their message through their art are discovered by extremists, they could be killed.
Each painting is approx. 48″ wide x 48″ high x 2″ thick. The pieces, comprised mainly of design elements, are colorful and have somewhat of an African flair. Once “The Last Brush of Kush” is completed, the paintings will be donated to The Genesis Mission Home, a branch of Mission Teens.
“This series was my attempt to share the story of creation by paintings alone. There are no words on the paintings, just beautiful, vibrant pictures of the unfolding of life,” stated Ms. Hamner.
Jennifer R. Hamner (a.k.a J. M. Rubino) resides in Northport, Ala. with her two daughters, Marisa and Salena, and their two rescued dogs, Maggie and Wally. She enjoys writing and currently contributes monthly for “SAVED News” and quarterly for “Faith Filled Family Magazine.” Prior to writing for these publications, she was a monthly contributing author for “Knitted Together by God.” She is an active author at Faitherwriters.com where she participates in their weekly Writing Challenge. Two of her weekly pieces recently earned her the Editor’s Choice Award and will be published in two separate “Mixed Blessings” books by Breath of Fresh Air Press. Her first novel, “The Route,” was released on Memorial Day, 2014. The profits earned from the novel benefit The Find HOPE Here Project, a Christian non-profit organization she founded. Hamner is an active speaker in Tuscaloosa and the surrounding counties for agencies and organizations such as Celebrate Recovery, A Woman’s Place and The Phoenix House. She also enjoys painting, recently completing and donating five acrylic works to The Braydon House in Tuscaloosa.
Gallery hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. – noon, and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and during Bama Theatre events. Enter the gallery through the PARA Building, adjacent to the Bama, during daytime hours.