Student artists at Emory University are exhibiting works from a compassion-focused visual arts course in a new show titled "Between Shadow and Light: Artwork on Compassion" at the Emory Center for Ethics' hallway gallery. The assignment, part of the Creative Conscience Project in partnership with the Emory Center for Ethics, asked students in Aaron Putt's "Introduction to Painting and Drawing" class to write personal notes on paper, crumple them, and create photorealistic still-life drawings incorporating intimate objects like family recipes, flowers, or seashells. The exhibit features drawings, paintings, and photographs by 13 students and will remain on display through January 2027.
The project matters because it integrates artistic skill-building with ethical reflection and compassion, aligning with Emory College of Arts and Sciences' Year of Compassion initiative. By using visual art to express complex ideas about empathy and human connection, the program demonstrates how creative practice can foster meaningful dialogue and personal growth. Organizers plan to repeat the process annually, exploring themes such as humility, curiosity, patience, and honesty, thereby embedding character education into the arts curriculum.