Legacy and Light: a gallery of generations
From the intertwined story of two artists, an educator, Gary Selby, and a storyteller, Steven Lester – one may notice some unique connections.
Selby started his career as a high school art teacher and advanced to a college professor of art and art history. Selby guided his students with his expertise, as his paintings are held in private collections from the United States to abroad. He was a mentor to many students, one of which was Lester. Lester received this artistic mentorship and worked alongside Selby for many years.
This five-decade journey of mentee and mentor experienced a shift when Selby and Lester parted ways for over 40 years before recently reconnecting. This rejoining of talents was no longer distinctly mentor and mentee. Both men are curated artists now. Selby and Lester also rejoined in another sense - as brothers in Christ.
“Neither of us could have possibly imagined a night like this, at this particular location,” Lester said.
This September, the Squires Library held more than just unique paintings, sketches and original artistry. It was also a place of reunion.
The years of craft from 74-year-old Steven Lester, and the late 91-year-old Gary Selby, who passed away this year, drew a large crowd and clearly depicts the impact of two faith-filled artists.
Lester speaks of the sense of urgency surrounding the final details of the gallery, as Selby grew increasingly ill. The men worked hand-in-hand to curate this showing of pieces, however, Selby “passed away, somewhat suddenly.” Whitney, Gary Selby‘s daughter, was present at the gallery showing and panel, sharing the love her father had for both art and Christ.
Lester shared how, through relationships, Christ has similarly been at work. Lester’s wife Rosemary led a man named Tilly to faith, and Tilly was the very man who led Lester to Christ - years before he and Rosemary met.
A time after Lester and Rosemary married, Rosemary had a drastic stroke and ended up in the hospital. Lester described how this difficult season was used for good. Rosemary recovered to the point of having no side effects remaining and left the hospital on her own two legs.
Rosemary then encouraged Lester to return to his painting, as he had not picked up a brush in many years. She told him that the full basement of their home was to be his art studio. Lester redeveloped his, just as he reconnected with Selby.
“You can’t script this,” says Lester. “50 years ago, two men standing in an art class at GSU certainly couldn’t see this room … But now we can look backward and recognize the awesome hand of God, the faithfulness of God.”
This art collaboration of Lester and Selby includes pieces depicting narratives from the Bible, exuding themes of sacrifice and redemption. Lester’s pieces tell of encounters of human moments where faith must become a decision. The subjects stand between what God has said and what is visible. Selby's paintings string together a progression. His paintings share birth, teaching, sacrifice, death, resurrection, spirit and the church: ultimately showcasing the gospel story.
“I see a life faithfully lived, a life that left something in all of us. That’s Gary’s legacy. And the light that he reflected still shines,” Lester said.
Photos by Lauren Gray
