Written and Photos by Farren Benjamin, USC blog contributor
The Louis Galen Artletics Exhibition kicked off yesterday in the Galen Center with a reception where 15 student-athletes were able to showcase their talents off the competition field.
This year's exhibition features artistic pieces that range from photographs, paintings, sculptures, and ceramic pieces designed by the student-athletes who are currently taking classes at the USC Roski School of Fine Arts.
For the second consecutive year, senior track and field distance runner Greg Woodburn has showcased his work in the Artletics exhibition.  His passion for painting and U.S. history has yielded connections in his life that stem back to his love for running. One of Woodburn's paintings on display this year is a broken foot with wings, which he said was not only a metaphor for the story of Icarus but also his passion for running early on which caused him multiple injuries.
"Art and athletics are both very process oriented. Â Both include months of preparation and training and hard work," said Woodburn. Â "Similar to a race, both things are a craft and take time. Â This painting is a metaphor for the experiences I have gone through with running."
While some athletes related their art back to a memorable moment in their lives, others used art to create something useful to use during their pastimes. Â Senior men's volleyball outside hitter Maddison McKibbin used his skills in ceramics to design two pieces - one that holds sunflower seeds and another that holds the empty shells.
The Louis Galen Artletics Exhibition kicked off yesterday in the Galen Center with a reception where 15 student-athletes were able to showcase their talents off the competition field.
This year's exhibition features artistic pieces that range from photographs, paintings, sculptures, and ceramic pieces designed by the student-athletes who are currently taking classes at the USC Roski School of Fine Arts.
For the second consecutive year, senior track and field distance runner Greg Woodburn has showcased his work in the Artletics exhibition.  His passion for painting and U.S. history has yielded connections in his life that stem back to his love for running. One of Woodburn's paintings on display this year is a broken foot with wings, which he said was not only a metaphor for the story of Icarus but also his passion for running early on which caused him multiple injuries.
"Art and athletics are both very process oriented. Â Both include months of preparation and training and hard work," said Woodburn. Â "Similar to a race, both things are a craft and take time. Â This painting is a metaphor for the experiences I have gone through with running."
While some athletes related their art back to a memorable moment in their lives, others used art to create something useful to use during their pastimes. Â Senior men's volleyball outside hitter Maddison McKibbin used his skills in ceramics to design two pieces - one that holds sunflower seeds and another that holds the empty shells.
"Ceramics is a nice break from everything," said McKibbin. "I am so used to business classes and volleyball, and ceramics is completely different. There's a different feeling of gratification when I make something on the wheel versus a paper for a business class."
Junior javelin thrower Jeff Churchman has cultivated his photography skills and provided a collection of photographs (Whispers in the Darkness) that highlights the beauty of downtown Los Angeles after dark. As his passion grows, he realizes that the art of photography can help bring people a new perspective on life and change the way people see common everyday things.
"I like being able to capture the world as I see it through my own lens and share it with others," said Churchman. "The beauty of photography is being able to look at a scene and imagine how to frame it to get a good idea what the end product will be and the same goes for a technical sport like the javelin."
"The best part about being able to share my photographs and my passion outside of sports with the community is that it just shows how well-rounded USC student-athletes are," said Churchman. "It's nice to not only be thought of as an athlete, but also creative and artistic as well."
The Artletics exhibition will be on display in the Galen Center from February 1 to March 14 and open during all men's and women's sporting events in the arena.
Junior javelin thrower Jeff Churchman has cultivated his photography skills and provided a collection of photographs (Whispers in the Darkness) that highlights the beauty of downtown Los Angeles after dark. As his passion grows, he realizes that the art of photography can help bring people a new perspective on life and change the way people see common everyday things.
"I like being able to capture the world as I see it through my own lens and share it with others," said Churchman. "The beauty of photography is being able to look at a scene and imagine how to frame it to get a good idea what the end product will be and the same goes for a technical sport like the javelin."
"The best part about being able to share my photographs and my passion outside of sports with the community is that it just shows how well-rounded USC student-athletes are," said Churchman. "It's nice to not only be thought of as an athlete, but also creative and artistic as well."
The Artletics exhibition will be on display in the Galen Center from February 1 to March 14 and open during all men's and women's sporting events in the arena.
