The art of a deceased Ohio University graduate is on display this week in the Trisolini Art Gallery as a memorial.
Andrew Lombardi, who died Sept. 22, 2004, at age 25 from a heart attack, graduated from OU in 2003 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in photography.
His art, which focuses on the scars he received from the two open-heart surgeries he had to treat a heart defect, was taken from his apartment in Columbus.
Fellow graduate Rebecca Whittington organized the exhibit and set the pieces for display with the full cooperation of Lombardi's mother, Pamela Lombardi.
After seeing the initial set-up for the show, Lombardi's mother burst into tears.
Because his art was so centered on his health
it's difficult for me to see it she said.
The show features a great variety of work by Lombardi. The gallery is filled with photographs, altered X-ray images torn apart and sewn together, paintings and a gumball machine filled with toys and pins that Lombardi designed.
I think that the work itself helps one to understand the trauma of having a body that doesn't work right said Michael Kendred, Lombardi's stepfather.
Despite the variety of media used in Lombardi's art, much of the work contains similar themes and images.
He dealt a lot with obliteration and loss of identity
also with scars as trace of identity
said Whittington. He made art to deal with his condition.
Lombardi's artist statement shows the influence of his medical condition, transposition of the great arteries, on his artwork.
My torso is riddled with marks
covered with markings that trace violations of the body with a surgeons' knife. These scars mark my identity
Lombardi wrote in his artist statement.
The show fulfills Lombardi's wish to have his art displayed.
Lombardi was disappointed that he was unable to show work at his bachelor's degree show, Whittington said.
The show, however, only reveals certain aspects of Lombardi's personality and life.
So much of this is so inwardly focused
and Andrew was very outwardly focused as well
Lombardi's mother said. I think this captured what he was struggling with. He felt detached from his body. He was trying to make some sense out of all that had happened to his body.
The closing reception, with refreshments provided by Lombardi's friends, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in Trisolini Gallery, though the display will remain up until 4 p.m. Saturday.
The purpose of the show and reception is to gather Lombardi's friends to celebrate his life instead of mourn his death, Whittington said.
He wasn't the kind of person that wanted people sitting around crying.
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