End of the World exhibit demonstrates hope through art

The images created for this exhibition express the anxiety of living in a modern world, while shining a light to challenge all children of the future, that this can truly become the end of a destructive era, and a kinder, gentler world will emerge from this time on.

—Val Huffman, one of three artists featured in exhibit

The day the Mayan calendar ends marks the end of a 5000 year cycle. So some people believe Friday, December 21 marks the end of the world.

At cre8ery gallery in Winnipeg, three artists are sharing their artistic vision on the end of one cycle and the birth of a new one.

Mike Luczak is a graphic artist and painter who studied at the University of Manitoba.

SCENE asked him to describe his Planet X painting, seen above:

"All of my work for the show is based on various end of world theories and scenarios. Planet X is based on a very wild theory that a rogue planet will enter our solar system called nibiru and collide with earth.

I used themes and images from science fiction films and comics as they fit the theme. The spheres that protrude from the panel is the cosmic collision of the planets. One of the main images used is the character Galactus from marvel comics who is the devourer of worlds.

I also used a purple color palette to pay homage to the old comic books I read as a kid which seemed to deal with end of world disasters in every issue."

Val Huffman is also a graphic artist and photographer. He found that his own art took a backseat because of his intense involvement in the digital world of design. Eventually, he returned to hands-on creating.

Huffman believes that all artists wish for a better world. "The images created for this exhibition express the anxiety of living in a modern world, while shining a light to challenge all children of the future, that this can truly become the end of a destructive era, and a kinder, gentler world will emerge from this time on," he says.

Shawn Berard is a painter and clay artist who also studied at the University of Manitoba. He built and co-manages cre8ery gallery.

Berard admits that his own life experiences feed his work. "My approach is very random. In beginning new projects or pieces, my workflow appears chaotic, but within the creative process there are many factors and instances of organization that become visible in the final result," he explains.

See the End of the World Art Show at cre8ery gallery from Friday December 21 to Friday December 28. Check gallery for hours. Unless the world ends.