By Shelly Williams/se news editor

Breaking the rules comes easy when the one who breaks them created them to begin with. The current art exhibit on SE Campus illustrates this idea.

Everything But the Kitchen Sink, an art exhibit by SE Campus alumnus Jeremy “Jeru” Gabriel, runs through March 12 in Art Corridor II.

SE fine arts instructional assistant Devon Nowlin said she chose to display his art because it shows a great example of the idiom sometimes used in art.

Gabriel, interested in art since his childhood, described the feeling he had when he created something visually that wasn’t there before.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that I can create something out of my head or what I see in front of me, just by using my hands,” he said. “My artwork gives me the freedom that we all sometimes lack in life: that’s to call our own shots and control the outcome. When I paint, I get to make the rules, and I get to break them.”

Gabriel said this show has no specific theme, but that everyday life inspired him to create his art filled with combinations of graffiti, portraits and graphic art.

“Most of my work is a jumble of things just floating in my head and the process of painting itself is my motivation,” he said. “It seems random, but it’s helping me focus on things that I might be thinking too much about.”

Nowlin said his art basically mashes up a variety of styles. Hence, the exhibition’s title — Everything But the Kitchen Sink.

“He tries to let go of everything in his mind and let it spill out onto the canvas,” she said. “We’ve had a great response from the students. Gabriel’s work is very graphic and comic-oriented and definitely grabs people’s attention.”

However, when he signed up for the show, Gabriel had only three pieces to present. 

“I really had to push myself to get a decent amount of work in. At times, I felt a bit rushed,” he said. “But the easiest part [of making the art for the show] would be that I tend to paint quickly. So although I felt a time constraint, I was able to get a good amount of pieces completed.”

Gabriel said he hopes to inspire students by his work when they see it along the halls. Though this is only his second solo exhibit in his career as an artist, he said it is nice to have his work stand alone and let the viewers sink into the pieces he produced.

“That’s all I could ever ask from a show,” he said, “that viewers walk away with a positive feeling.”

Viewers may see the exhibit 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday in Art Corridor II. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Nowlin at 817-515-3406.