“God’s Eye” exhibit to showcase the work of Chad Friesen at Good Library Gallery

“The Crowds Following Jesus” by Chad Friesen (2004)

The Good Library Gallery at Goshen College will host “God’s Eye,” an exhibit of paintings by Chad Friesen, running from Sept. 8 through Nov. 17, 2024. The exhibit features the vibrant and deeply personal works of Friesen (1967-2013), a self-taught artist who overcame physical disabilities to produce a prolific body of work that includes over 1,000 paintings.

The Gallery will hold a public reception at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, to celebrate the opening of the exhibit.

Friesen’s art is characterized by bold lines and vivid colors, reflecting his innermost thoughts and feelings. Despite a lifelong disability that defied diagnosis, Friesen communicated with the world through his paintings which served as both his diary and his prayer. His spiritual journey and his time spent in Jerusalem in the early 1970s, where his parents served with a Mennonite service organization, profoundly influenced his work. He was particularly inspired by the “God’s Eyes” painted above doorways in Muslim homes which he saw as symbols of God’s all-knowing wisdom and grace.

The exhibit includes a significant collection of his works, most of which are from the private collections of his parents, Carol Nickel and Leroy Friesen and their friends, Dean and Gwen Preheim Bartel. The Mennonite-Amish Exhibit Committee of Goshen College sponsors the exhibit.

Friesen’s art extends beyond the Michiana area, garnering recognition for its spiritual depth and vibrant expression. His pieces often feature flowers, especially sunflowers, depicted in a way that imparts sacred meaning to the beholder.

Friesen was born in Fresno, California on January 4, 1967 to Leroy G. and Carol F. (Nickel) Friesen. He passed away on Nov. 15, 2013 at the age of 46. He was known for his love of riding horses at Loveway, sailing on Lake Michigan, traveling and his dogs.