“Jackie Milad: The Beat of My Heart (Nabḍ Qalbi),” the latest show from Arcadia Exhibitions, debuted in Spruance Gallery on Feb. 12, with a faculty and staff lunch preview and an opening reception in the evening. This exhibition was curated by Adjunct Professor of Visual and Performing Arts Dr. Danielle O’Steen and showcases Artist Jackie Milad’s massive collaged paintings as well as a collection of small sculptures based on “shabtis”, obelisk-shaped forms that were part of Egyptian burial practices for thousands of years.

“I really fell in love with her work over the last few years, so I approached Jackie and said I wanted to do something together, and we were really searching for the right space and environment,” explained O’Steen. “One of the really important things about this show for us was creating this new intimacy, this idea of a gathering of these objects and seeing everything coming together felt really great.”

Drawing on years of research in Western museum collections, Milad layers colorful abstract marks, pop culture references, and drawings of artifacts to explore the intersections of history, identity, and diaspora. She describes this show as a “representation of dispersed heritage,” as shabtis were widely looted and scattered into Western collections in the 19th and 20th centuries.

“Though the artist’s initial drive is personal, an exploration of her own cultural identity, her work with the collections of noted museums and institutions is more akin to a researcher or art historian,” said Arcadia Exhibitions Director Matthew Borgen. “As the director of an exhibition program camped within a liberal arts institution, I am always looking for ways in which the practice of other academic programs can overlap with our offerings. I believe students and faculty from a wide variety of disciplines can enter this show and see approaches to the acquisition of information that are relevant to their own.”

Director of Community Standards and Student Conduct Cat Mattingly ’99 had an immediate personal connection to Milad’s work.

“Everything’s so bold and bright, and the colors and size of the artwork are pretty striking. It’s awesome,” said Mattingly. “My son just finished a chapter on Egyptian history in his elementary class, and we were just talking about it. He would really get a kick out of this scene; it’s very, very great.”

Adjunct Professor of Visual and Performing Arts James Heimer and Philadelphia-based Artist Caitlin McCormack were drawn to the exhibition to see how the artwork utilizes different techniques to fill Spruance Gallery in new ways.

“This is not your typical gallery space. I’m always interested in seeing what they do with this, and I’m always kind of shocked by how dramatically it transforms while still clearly being the same space,” said McCormack. “As for the work itself, I love that it’s made by a woman. The scale of it is incredibly impressive, and collage is kind of a disregarded modality, so I think that when someone works in this intensely mixed-media method, it’s really important, profound, and unpretentious.” 

“I teach illustration here, and I’m always curious to see what’s happening in the gallery space because illustration and fine art are two different things, but this work is definitely informed by illustration,” added Heimer. “I also teach an alternative media class here, and so seeing work that plays back and forth between two-dimensional and three-dimensional is really interesting for me.”

Borgen also sees this show as a way for Arcadia Exhibitions to bridge the gap between the gallery and the classroom.

“Beyond the function of providing cultural experiences for our community, Arcadia Exhibitions is attempting to reinforce the perception of our program as an important contributor to curriculum development and interdisciplinary collaboration. Milad’s work offers many ways for our students, faculty, and staff to approach and access her research,” said Borgen. “I encourage all of our instructors to stop by, view the work, and engage in a discussion of how the gallery can be integrated into their classroom discussions.”

“Jackie Milad: The Beat of My Heart (Nabḍ Qalbi)” will be on display in Spruance Gallery through April 19, with a lecture by Milad given on April 8 at 6 p.m.