Pease artwork on display at Northern's Multicultural Center

During February, which is the national celebration of Black History Month, the Montana State University-Northern Multicultural Center is displaying the artwork of Professor Norton Pease.

"Katrina," oil on paper, 29-by-24.5 inches is a reflection of the 2005 New Orleans tragedy.

"My work is primarily figurative, and directly relates to racial identity," Pease said. "As such, this painting is an element of my speech.

"The forms are a signifier to my fascination with Hurricane Katrina, and the controversies that ensued," he said.

"For me, this artwork becomes a kind of writing as soon as the forms take meaning: Like writing, they call for a lexis," he said.

"The connotation behind these elements stems from their cohesive nature in a swimming scene - swimming cap, water flippers, lifeguard swimsuit, submerged or above water, white girl, the black man.  They all have a system of connections that relate directly to one another and the context of Katrina," he said.

The public is invited to visit the Multicultural Center and view Pease's art.

The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Northern's Office of Diversity Awareness and Multicultural Programs invites local and regional artists to exhibit their pieces, preferably those that have some link to multicultural themes. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 265-3589.