This altered photograph by Kayb Carpenter Joseph is part of her exhibition, “Lotus Eaters,” at Covenant College Gallery.For almost 10 years, Kayb Carpenter Joseph has been fascinated by the story of the lotus eaters.
Her exhibition, opening at Covenant College Gallery on Monday, centers on the ninth book of Homer’s “Odyssey,” in which soldiers who eat lotus lose their desire to sail home to Greece. Instead, they want to continue consuming lotus. Only by tying the soldiers to the ship is Odysseus able to continue their journey.
“For me, it conjures up how our idols do that to us,” she said. “We’re on a journey to a place, but we keep getting distracted by what we think is it or we want it to be, and we’re oblivious and can’t see. Often it will take a community or an outside force to start us back on our journey.”
“Lotus Eaters,” composed of six sets of work including ceramics, photography and sculpture, will remain on display through March 4. A reception will be held in the art gallery, located on the second floor of Kresge Memorial Library, on Tuesday at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m. Joseph, who is an associate professor of art at the college, will give a lecture.
The gallery, 14049 Scenic Highway on Lookout Mountain, is open 7:45 a.m.-12:45 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:45 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Call 706-820-1560.