Editor’s Note: All responses by Javier Flechas were translated by the reporter

The Waynesburg University Fine Arts Department is ecstatic to invite and host the artwork of an international artist to start the spring semester. 

Javier Flechas, a 48-year-old Colombian artist, will be showcasing his pieces in the Benedum Gallery from Monday, Jan. 24, until  Friday, Feb. 18.

“My goal every semester is to bring some kind of artwork that educates the community about something,” Chairperson for the Fine Arts Department Andrew Heisey said. “I’m very excited [for] this show.”

Flechas will not be attending in person, but he will be having a two-hour Zoom session on Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. to open the gallery. 

“I love the idea of being able to show my work in another country,” Flechas said. 

Flechas’ title for his artwork is “Artista Plástico,” or “Plastic Artist.”

He doesn’t necessarily work with plastic; rather, the word “plastic” is used in the context of being flexible, having plasticity.

“I developed my university studies at The Academy of Superior Arts in Bogotá where I had the opportunity to study drawing, painting, sculpture, art history and photography, among many other topics,” Flechas said.

His creativity especially came alive during the pandemic.

When Flechas was quarantined in his home at the beginning of the pandemic, he developed a unique painting.

Flechas watched the news every night to see how many new COVID-19 deaths were reported for that day.

With each death that was reported, Flechas painted an individual flower to represent each human life that was lost in his home country.  This is one of the pieces that will be displayed in the gallery.

“In spite of the distance and all that differentiates us, the pain, the anguish, including hope and love and all of the feelings that have emerged in this hard stage of our lives, they are common for all of humanity,” Flechas said.

There will also be an interactive part of the gallery for visitors. 

Inspired by his flower artwork, Flechas created a new black and white painting that contains pre-drawn flowers.

Visitors will be able to color in their own flowers for every individual that they personally knew who passed away due to COVID-19. Cards can also be attached next to each flower with the names of those who passed.

“When we hear the numbers of COVID deaths, we just hear a number,” Heisey said. “Here, we are putting personality to it.”

The gallery hours are from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visitations must be made by appointment.