"Art is inherently interdisciplinary, especially since the second half of the 20th century," says Victoria Star Varner. "For young artists to prepare for the challenges of making art responsive to 21st century societal changes, they must possess some knowledge in a variety of disciplines.

"Because much of contemporary art deals with topics and issues outside the realm of pure aesthetics, the liberal arts context helps to stimulate and give form to multivalent, interdisciplinary art. The general university student taking an art class learns new ways to think creatively—skills that enhance any field of study. Ours is a predominantly visual culture. The visual language is one of the most articulate and differentiated forms of knowledge. Everyone can benefit from learning to use and interpret it.

"I hope my students discover the truly life-enhancing value of art while studying at Southwestern. Through their study of studio art and art history in my classes, I try to assist them in uncovering or developing significant personal and cultural meaning. I wish for them the inspiration of art study, which can enhance the joyous times in their lives and give solace in difficulty."

Varner teaches all levels of painting, drawing and printmaking, including lithography and intaglio. She also stresses rigorous anatomical figure drawing, "the basis of visual art education for centuries."

Her own interests currently are focused in postmodern theory as it applies to figurative art. She has exhibited her paintings, drawings and prints throughout the United States and took part with several SU alumni in the exhibition Small Books/Prints U.S.A., which traveled in 12 museums and galleries in New Zealand and Australia.

In October, the premiere exhibit of "The Mysteries Revisited" opened at the Fine Arts Gallery in SU's Sarofim School of Fine Arts. The 30x17x10.5 foot installation was a collaboration between Varner and Thomas N. Howe, professor of art and Brown Distinguished Research Professor, who designed architectural elements for the installation, and Scott Maddeaux '96, who acted as floor designer and fabricator.

Begun as a Mundy Fellowship project and supported by several Cullen faculty development grants, the project was inspired by Varner's research trip to the Villa of the Mysteries at ancient Pompeii.

"It houses one of the great ancient painting cycles. There I explored the idea of creating my own narrative figural cycle based on the mysteries of contemporary life.

"My desire to reacquaint painting theory with that of architecture gave rise to the two central ideas for the project: to engage the viewer through the interrelationships of implied space of classicized painting and the actual space of classically-based architecture; and to draw the viewer into an elusive space filled with the kind of disparate images that construct memories.

Varner holds a B.S.Ed. and an M.A. in painting from the Univ. of Missouri. She also earned an M.F.A. in printmaking from Indiana Univ. She spends as much time as possible with family and friends and enjoys "reading, foreign travel, and foreign films that give me a glimpse of life outside the American culture."