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The new gallery show at Graham Gallery features an artist we haven’t seen before in this area, Patric Jernigan. He lives in Plainview, Texas. His wife has connections to a small Nebraska town, which brings them to Hastings from time to time. He liked Graham Gallery and the owner, Angela Graham, liked his art, so a show was born. It is called “The Book of Hidden Things”.

As I write this, I haven’t met Patric, so I don’t have the benefit of his insight concerning the images. You might wonder why this is even something I need to mention. When you see the show you will understand why an explanation or interpretation might be sought after from the artist. Before I get into the question of what the images mean, let me first tell you about the properties.

There are 30 pictures in the show, which vary in size, 3×4, 4×5, & 4×8, so all the art is relatively small. The medium is ink on vellum. I remember a similar technique being used by editorial cartoonists I worked with in my newspaper days, when the camera and metal plates were the production methods we used to print newspapers.

The pictures can be described as black on white, using a very smart drawing style. They are superbly rendered, using clean lines and a masterful drafting technique. There are recurring themes, circus tents, religious symbols, philosophic references and popular idioms. The perspectives are very creative; some seem to have connections with surrealism. The humor pushes toward the dark side, but the images aren’t depressing. You might find yourself laughing, certainly smiling, as you move through the show. I will also bet you will have a “humm???” or two when you try and give added meaning to what you see.

Describing the physical nature of this show is the easy part. It becomes more complicated when you try and explain what the “Book of Hidden Things” means. That explanation may best be left to each viewer. I look forward to meeting the artist and hear his take on the show. How much information will he add to my understanding? How much do I want him to explain? Sometimes we can enjoy a work of art and not really understand all of the nuance. This may be the case for many works in this show. I’m confident you, like Angela, will like Patric’s work.

For more information contact Angela Graham at 402-463-2555 or angela@graham-gallery.com. You can also check out Graham Gallery’s website at www.graham-gallery.com

About the author: Jerry Daniels

Jeremy Daniels graduated from McCook Sr. High in 1959. He received a BA in Fine Arts from Hastings College in 1963. After almost six years in the military, he worked for Dutton-Lainson Co. in Hastings for 44 years. He was a Vice President and Advertising Manager for the firm. His artworks include most painting media, as well as sculpture. His studio is in Hastings and he can be contacted at jldan@charter.net.