A new art exhibit opening today in Fulton at William Woods' Mildred Cox Gallery addresses the so-called "sins of humanity," college spokesman John Fougere said.
"Sin Eaters" features the work of eight Illinois-based artists who address difficult topics such as horror, evil and shame through their creative works. An opening reception will be 4-6 p.m. Wednesday.
"Sin Eaters" gets its name from a ritual in some sects of early Christianity. It refers to members of communities whose sole function was to take on the sins of others. Families of the newly deceased would hire a "sin eater" to perform a ritual in which a simple meal of food and drink would be consumed by the sin eater, symbolically transferring the dead person's transgressions to the sin eater.
Similarly, artists in the Sin Eaters group see themselves as willingly taking the burden of society's sins, and transforming those transgressions into something palatable for the public through their art. The work of the group, though diverse, will create an environment that touches upon the sins that are known, carried, and also often hidden in an age where so much is commonly on display and publicized.
The exhibit will be available until Feb. 5. Admission to Cox Gallery is free. Cox Gallery is open 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.