Current events have inspired a display of cultural awareness in Missouri Southern’s Spiva Art Gallery.

The collaborative piece “Artists in Times of War,” -created by six Missouri Southern artists -is comprised of silhouettes depicting more than 100 years of war and violence.

“This is something you definitely couldn’t have done years ago, the current of things are changing,” said Jeff Youngblood, senior studio art major. The all gallery exhibit was inspired by the “current global situation” and uses “simple but powerful,” images such as the flag at ground zero on Sept. 11, 2001, soldiers in battle, member of the Ku Klux Klan and lynching scenes.

The artists also have a very personal connection to some of the pictures displayed. Various images throughout the exhibit contain silhouettes of the artists, including an original fight scene comprised of the silhouettes of Jessica Reyelts, junior studio art major, Whitney Fair, sophomore studio art major, and Trent Mosley senior psychology major.

“We thought we should put ourselves into our work,” said Josi Mai, assistant professor of art.

Images were created with basic black acrylic paint on whitewashed cardboard mounted to the gallery walls. Students traced the images, projected from overhead tracings of popular photographs.

Artists took approximately a week to mount the cardboard and complete the tracing and painting of the images selected.

Artists began the process by collecting images they felt fit the theme of the piece.

Illustrations included clippings from TIME magazine, newspapers and original artwork.

“Some were cool images, but they didn’t lend themselves to silhouette,” Mai said.

In addition to making a statement about the world today, Mai wanted to give her students the opportunity to work on a project where cooperation was required.

“This is the kind of collaborative project they’ll find in the work world,” Mai said.

The complete wall-to-wall piece was described as a “total group effort.”

“I really enjoyed working with everyone as a team,” said Jennifer Ragan, senior studio art major.

The exhibit opened March 26 and will remain open until April 13.

“The exhibit is not a final judgment on the war,” Youngblood said. “It’s a collection of images for you to decide for yourself.”