Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Creighton University is showcasing Blair Bunting: Journeys, Neurodivergence and Belonging.
This month’s opening event, The Beauty of Autism — Visual Art and Poetry, leveraged the new exhibition to merge visual arts and poetry to explore the experiences of individuals with autism. The exhibition, at the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Health Sciences Building at Park Central, embodies Creighton’s Jesuit mission to educate the whole person, according to a press release.
At Park Central, the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus — Phoenix serves as an interdisciplinary hub where nearly 850 future healthcare professionals train to serve Arizona’s communities, representatives of the brand tell the Digital Free Press.
Curated by Dr. James Burns and featuring the work of acclaimed photographer Blair Bunting — both of whom openly discuss their experiences living with autism — the exhibition provides a unique opportunity to explore neurodiversity through creative expression.
“Following the longstanding Jesuit tradition for humanistic inquiry and fostering understanding for those living on the margins, Creighton seeks to engage not only our students, but the wider community in these important conversations,” said Creighton University President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, Ph.D. “I am hopeful this installation will stoke even more meaningful engagements, partnerships and opportunities for creative expression.”
In addition to Bunting’s thought-provoking photography, the exhibition showcases original ekphrastic poetry — poems inspired by the visual artwork — written by Creighton student poets.
“We are pleased to welcome this extraordinary exhibit to Park Central and the Creighton campus,” said Sharon Harper, chairman and CEO of Plaza Companies. “Park Central is about celebrating the arts and expanding the impact of healthcare, and this unique exhibition is an intersection of those two missions.”
The Creighton University Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Health Sciences Campus at Park Central in midtown Phoenix features a collection of a broad variety of artwork spanning multiple mediums and platforms. The artwork pays homage to Creighton’s history as well as the history and natural beauty of Arizona, while also spotlighting core principles of Jesuit values, creating an exceptional environment for learning for Creighton students.
“The artwork showcased here beautifully captures the sense of place that makes Creighton University truly unique while celebrating local artists as well,” said Jon Stelzer, Executive Director of Development for Plaza Companies, who oversaw the building’s construction. “Creighton’s presence in Arizona is a significant addition, and it’s only fitting that we celebrate it with an art collection that highlights the excellence of this remarkable space.”
