his book - University Liggett School

Students, parents, and this community will beenriched because it is Carl Demeulenaere’s choiceto exhibit here. While putting together thisexhibition, Carl said, “It is essential for studentsto look at art. I like the atmosphere of this school,and I want to show my work in this space.” Afterhis first visit, Carl graciously met with studentsand shared aspects of his life with them. Manystudents said that he was generous with his timeand that he wanted to know more about thegoals in their lives. It gives me great pleasure tointroduce this amazing artist and to have CarlDemeulenaere exhibit his art at UniversityLiggett School.Jim Pujdowski, Gallery Coordinator, 2011The Anderson Exhibition Centerin The Manoogian Arts WingArtist’s StatementMy drawings have employed a detailed techniquefor two decades and have often been integratedinto installations. Conflicts arising from history,religion, sexuality, race, and prejudice are issues I’vecontinued to address. Growing up a gay Catholicin a racially mixed, Eastside Detroit neighborhood,my schoolbooks negated homosexuality, mychurch prayed to heal me, acting on sexual impulsecondemned me, and prejudice was directed towardme. I was often bullied—a universal problemexisting to this day. I’ve come away a better personwho can speak about these experiences in mydrawings and installation work. Many people havealso coped with the deaths of parents and friendswho’ve helped through difficult years. I’ve onlybegun to examine this sad reality. I’m now strivingto capture some of the ways in which we, asindividuals, respond to life’s uncertainty and death’sinevitability. This has led to a deeper interest inspirituality, mysticism, and parapsychology.10