Four Eastern alumni will display their art work for the first time at the Comfort/Conflict Art Show in conjunction with the Heart of Christmas in Charleston this weekend.

“I read that instead of trying to go out to the big city, you should first try to become an artist in your own community,” said Jacob Grant, the artist who organized this show.

The show is being held at the Charleston Transitional Facility, 702 Jackson Ave., and the opening reception will take place 7 to 10 p.m. tonight.

Reagan Carey, Mike Collins, Natalie Brown and Grant, all Charleston residents and Eastern alumni, will be displaying art work ranging from ceramics to print making.

“We have all found that the collaboration of our work echoes personal tension attached to social concerns and highlights a sense of the artist’s self,” Grant said.

Grant has a bachelor of arts degree from Eastern in studio art. He is currently working at the Charleston Transitional Facility while still working in his art studio at home, The Potter’s House. Grant said he will be displaying ceramics that show how appearances can be deceiving and how greed affects those in the farming economy.

Carey, who also works at the Charleston Transitional Facility, has a master of arts degree from Eastern in printmaking. Her drawings and prints range from the emotional view of women to focusing on motherhood, Grant said.

Brown obtained her master of arts degree from Eastern in painting and drawing. Besides working on her pieces, she also works at the Tarble Arts Center. Her display will consist of drawings and paintings.

“They are morally questionable drawings and paintings of women’s lingerie that shed a more sarcastic and corny light upon the idea of being sexy,” Brown said.

Collins is currently working on his master of arts degree in sculpture/metal smith at Eastern. His sculptures to be displayed will show the humor and contradicting attitudes toward American pop culture, Grant said.

Grant said he is hoping his display will help the community realize there are plenty of artists in the town.

“There are lots of artists in Charleston that are not exposed,” Grant said. “I hope this shows that could really be done.”

All of these exhibits will continue to be on display to the public 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Sunday.