Middle East and Europe Come to Student Gallery

"What is it about this land that fosters such deep faith, but provokes such cruel violence?" This is the question senior Jason Hostetter seeks to both express and investigate through his photography gallery that is currently showing in the student gallery next to the Common Grounds. The pictures retrace his recent cross-cultural travels across the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Despite the wide variety of geographical locations, the subjects of many of these photographs are surprisingly similar: God and conflict. Choosing scenes that provoke an image of particular beauty and meaning, Hostetter reveals this dichotomy of themes by emphasizing landscapes, structures, and "people of the land,"the local people who spend their lives in the settings captured in these photographs. "Buildings [hold] many stories, both ancient and modern, while the land around them provides context," says Hostetter. Additionally, he attempts to capture scenes from the lives of ordinary people as he was fascinated by their efforts to live normal lives in the midst of turmoil that has held the attention of the entire world.

Hostetter certainly succeeds in his efforts to portray both powerful and beautiful images. The images of simplicity that lie amidst the bright colors and familiar landscapes are intriguing, such as people removing their shoes and praying inside Petra. Other powerful images of these "people of the land" include cobblers on the streets in Hebron and Jerusalem and people walking along the Separation Wall, not paying the famous structure any notice. Photographs such as this one bring out the paradox of simplicity within such famously complex settings that Hostetter seemed to be trying to express.

Another group of photographs that are especially enjoyable were several of the landscape photographs of famous biblical settings. Hostetter beautifully captures the Desert of Jordan, Mount Sinai, and the supposed location of the burning bush, it's interesting to have an image to go along with these famous places.

Interestingly, the gallery is set up in an extremely simple way, with little more than photographs hanging on the wall with brief descriptions. Given the subject matter and the artist's goals for the exhibit, this fits the gallery perfectly. Hostetter was trying to express simplicity among turmoil, and has achieved even more so through the smaller, concrete photographs and straightforward scenes.

The gallery is open daily, with free admission, and will be showing until Nov. 22.