Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of M Street, Parish Gallery is hosting a unique exhibit that defies the mantra of “Those who cannot do, teach.” Featuring the recent work of 13 members of the Howard University faculty, the exhibition “Visions and Voices” covers a range of media and genres, truly representing the diversity of the artists’ ideas and styles. The gallery presents the works in no particular order so that the different pieces of one artist or similarly-themed works are not necessarily found together, adding to the sense of a broad range of styles. The artists’ work goes to show that a university is the birthplace of ideas not only for students, but also for the faculty.

Several pieces carry strong political messages, such as those of Floyd Coleman, professor of art history, W.R. Owen-Hart, professor of ceramics and Reginald Pointer, assistant professor of ceramics. Coleman’s vivid and energetic pieces draw significance from their titles; without them, they are simply abstract art with vague meanings, but with them, they incite the viewer to analyze the works further. “Homage to Barack” is a small canvas with an abstract image of mixed media. Owen-Hart’s sculpture entitled “Katrina, the Shame of America” is the first piece one sees when walking into the quaint gallery, and it is one of the more memorable works. The sculpture is the shape of a woman’s abdomen, with representations of dollar bills at the base. On the back of the work, the image of Barbara Bush and an unsympathetic quote regarding the Hurricane Katrina evacuees stands as a foil to an evocative image of women cloaked in an American flag. Pointer’s work is reminiscent of — and possibly functional as — a chess set. However, the pieces of the set feature engraved faces with painful or distressed expressions, and the overall tone of the work is rugged and violent. “My current body of work is about communication, or the simple lack of it,” said Pointer in his artist’s statement. “Two forces coming together in harmony or in tension.”

Also on display are the folk art-esque works of lecturer Hamid Kachmar and professor Alfred Smith. Kachmar’s large, bold work features earth tones and interesting elements such as spoon heads and engraved hieroglyphics. “Materials like textiles, wood or paper and techniques I employ to construct my artworks are activities within which process became one with the meaning,” he explains in his artist’s statement, “sort of intertwining autobiographic references with metaphors of a universal order.” Kachmar was born in Morocco, and the influence of native art continues to play a strong role in his work, as evident from the pieces on display at the gallery. Smith’s work is similar in technique — he combines natural materials such as raw textiles with colorful beads and buttons in his work. His piece “Caribbean Grace” evokes exactly the emotion of the title; cheerful yet tranquil words and phrases printed on pink ribbon along with subtle rhinestones lighten up a base of painted natural textile.

Besides painting and sculpture, the gallery also features photography by lecturer Terry deBardelaben, professor Starmanda Bullock and production assistant Raven Featherstone — yet all of their work is distinctly unique. While deBardelaben’s installation of images features photographs of African children, Featherstone’s large panoramic work collages computer-edited pictures of urban structures. Bullock’s work, on the other hand, unmistakably draws inspiration from the work of Andy Warhol, with heavily enhanced images repeated in different tones across the artwork.

This display of the work of Howard University faculty is an annual event aimed at displaying the personal achievements of individuals that are often perceived as purely instructors, and whose personal artwork is often eclipsed by the many impressive accomplishments of their students. “I have known many of these artists over the years,” says Parish Gallery owner Norman Parish, “and it gives me great honor in presenting their creative talents to the commercial world of fine art.” But this year’s “Visions and Voices” stands as a particularly interesting look into the diversity of backgrounds and inspirations of the various artists. To their students, each artist may just be another professor. But, as “Visions and Voices” illustrates, just as each has a unique teaching style, each has a distinct artistic style.