The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art’s “Art of the Athlete” exhibition returns for a fifth year featuring work created by University of Oregon student athletes participating in five sports. 

The public is invited to a free reception, sponsored by Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The exhibition remains on view through Jan. 29.

“'Art of the Athlete' is a yearlong program that includes a four-week intensive summer school workshop for UO student athletes,” said Lisa Abia-Smith, the museum’s director of education and curator of the program. “Each year, the program builds upon the success of the previous term and integrates service to others, self-reflection, and learning strategies through the visual arts.”

The "Art of the Athlete" projects center on themes of identity, race and power. Students investigated how the subjects have been portrayed in famous paintings since the 17th century and then considered how they wanted to address them in relation to their own identities.

Works by Kehinde Wiley and Robert Colsecott, artists currently on view in the exhibition “Between the World and Me: African American Artists Respond to Ta-Nehisi Coates,” were studied and used for inspiration.

“We also asked students to consider the use of language and words,” Abia-Smith said. “Artists created portraits using rap lyrics, psalms, inspirational quotes from their coaches and other words that resonated with their identities. “

Also on view are a series of photographs documenting the student athletes and their outreach to Umpqua Community College shooting survivor Julie Woodworth.

In fall 2015, the "Art of the Athlete" program was approached by Woodworth’s family after doctors recommended that she have art in her hospital room to provide visual stimulation as part of her recovery. Athletes spent weeks painting art for her room, visiting her in the hospital and making signs of support and eventually had the opportunity to create art with her.

This year’s exhibition features work from the following student athletes: Arrion Springs, football; August Raskie, volleyball; Austin Maloata, football; Canton Kaumatule, football; Dillon Brooks, men’s basketball; Evan Baylis, football; Fotu Leiato, football; Gary Baker, football; Jonah Moi, football; Jordyn Fox, acrobatics and tumbling; Malik Lovette, football; Megan Conder, women’s golf; Rex Manu, football; Tui Talia, football; Tyree Robinson, football; and Ugo Amadi, football.

"Art of the Athlete" is sponsored by School of Architecture and Allied Arts Arts and Administration Program and UO athletics.