Art professor Jeff Boshart’s artwork titled “Passion Arrested” tells the story of his experience with colon cancer.

The symbolism within the art is not visible at first glance, but it becomes so after the viewer learns Boshart’s story.

Boshart was diagnosed with colon cancer last spring and through the various mediums in his art he illustrates the chemotherapy and surgery that he faced.

Sharpened nails represent chemotherapy, stainless steel objects represent surgery and the four boards on the floor illustrate diagnosis.

Three of the four boards are pure clean pieces of oak and the fourth is knotted, a “diseased piece of oak” so to speak, Boshart said.

A piece of the artwork is missing and light is shining through illustrating success.

“We removed it (part of the colon) and the chemo worked,” Boshart said. “We are still standing tall.”

The artwork itself is 11 feet tall.

For Boshart, “Passion Arrested” was a therapy piece that is different than his typical stone artwork.

Boshart is one of 17 art faculty whom are showcasing their work and lives outside of the classroom at the 2006 Art Faculty Exhibit in the Tarble Arts Center through Nov. 26.

The work ranges from paintings to photographs and sculptures to stoneware.

Boshart’s stone artwork and photographs are featured throughout the exhibit.

He said showing students what art professors do outside of the classroom is “an important part” of a teacher’s role.

Assistant art professor Jenny Chi choose to place her oil pieces of the women figure in the exhibit.

“That’s my main medium,” she said. “For me, I am a figurative artist.”

Chi said it is important for students to see professors’ art rather than just hearing what they say in class.

“Students can benefit from seeing what I’ve done,” she said.

The benefits of seeing the professors’ art is for students to get ideas of their own and to see what different mediums can be used.

Lonnie Richards, an art graduate student, likes the art of painting, collage and fabric but was glad to see the different mediums in the professors’ artwork.

“I think it’s interesting to see their work because they’re helping me with mine,” she said. “It makes their guidance more valued.”

Richards has seen some of the featured professors’ art before but Ann Coddington was one she had not.

“I think it’s really cool how she uses different mediums,” Richards said. She added that using different mediums is something she likes to do.

Coddington’s art focuses on the physical nature of the human body.

In her piece “Gasp,” a large, white piece of paper with a drawing of a mouth in colored pencil near the top, Coddington illustrates the experiences of the world through the mouth.

“In this piece, I was contemplating what we experience of the world through our mouths; sustenance, speech, our first and last breath,” she said. “It is the supreme portal of our bodies.”

Lei Curtis, a senior 3-D studio major with an emphasis in ceramics, attended to see what the art faculty are doing in their free time.

When looking at the paintings of Chris Kahler, Robert Horvath and Chi, Curtis saw that there are many ways to approach painting.

“They all have a different style,” she said. “You’re always learning from anyone’s art.”

Curtis said that even students who are not art majors could appreciate the art faculty exhibit.

“I think it allows them to look at the art program at EIU,” she said. “(Or to) see what their friends are doing.”

Both Boshart and Chi agreed that non-art students could gain from going to exhibits.

“Going to a gallery is a form of entertainment,” Boshart said.

Almost always they will find something that makes them say ‘That was very cool,’ he said.

Chi also thinks that art is a form of entertainment.

“I think the most important thing is they need to enjoy it,” Chi said. “For non-artists, they can really get a feel for what art is.”