steve.wiggins@gmail.com
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From the June 8th, 2006 issue of the in the University of Kentucky's, "Kentucky Kernel", a student run newspaper:
Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object at rest will remain at rest, while an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
For UK graduate Stephen Wiggins, the outside forces of art, music and religion keep him moving forward.
His art show, "An Object in Motion," the name of which was inspired by Newton's first law, is on display at Common Grounds Coffee House. The show's title came from Wiggins' life lessons.
"I've found that if you just keep moving and you get to a rough spot, and then if you rest and you do that you'll get more depressed just wallowing," Wiggins said. "But once you keep moving, you just keep moving - you don't look back."
The show is dedicated to Wiggins' friend, Jason Goodwin, who died after a car accident in February. The two met through the Christian Student Fellowship, and Goodwin inspired his friend to work through others' criticism and keep making art.
"Since he died, it's kind of resonated with me, the object in motion concept - just keep going and not be at rest," Wiggins said. "Just keep moving forward and don't sit there and wallow."
Mary Carlton, a Common Grounds employee in charge of putting together art exhibits at the coffee house, worked with Wiggins to set up the show.
"I've gotten a lot of really positive responses about his art work," Carlton said. "I think he's going to go far because he's a very hard worker and he really cares about what he's doing."
Wiggins was raised a Roman Catholic, and many of the pieces are inspired by his faith - his passion has devoted him both to art and his religion.
"I didn't have any direction in my life," he said. "Once I dedicated it to (Christ), I found that more opportunities popped up and I felt more at peace about what I was doing, other than freaking out about it."
Wiggins graduated with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts last month. He named his adviser, UK art professor Arturo Sandoval, as one of his mentors.
"(Sandoval) helped me out as far as giving me encouragement and letting me know that you can do art and make a way for yourself. You just find a way to make it work for you, and it will work out," Wiggins said. "He was able to guide me as far as art and religion and spirituality, and how to connect those things together."
When he's not creating new pieces, Wiggins is in the DJ booth on the radio at WRFL 88.1 FM.
According to his Web site, Wiggins especially loves drum and bass, but is interested in other genres of electronic music like techno and house. Wiggins said that growing up listening to artists such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Al Green has influenced his preference for "soulful drum and bass."
"I don't try to play a whole lot of stuff with vocals, or stuff that's too mainstream because Top-40 music is so accessible to the media," Wiggins said. "I know my music is abstract, but I love it."
His paintings and prints are selling now, but even if his art doesn't lead to a career, Wiggins said art will always be part of his life.
"Being able to reach people through my art or DJ-ing, even though I don't know how I'm going to do it; if I can do that, that's my goal," he said, "because that's going to carry me further than just making money."
Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object at rest will remain at rest, while an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
For UK graduate Stephen Wiggins, the outside forces of art, music and religion keep him moving forward.
His art show, "An Object in Motion," the name of which was inspired by Newton's first law, is on display at Common Grounds Coffee House. The show's title came from Wiggins' life lessons.
"I've found that if you just keep moving and you get to a rough spot, and then if you rest and you do that you'll get more depressed just wallowing," Wiggins said. "But once you keep moving, you just keep moving - you don't look back."
The show is dedicated to Wiggins' friend, Jason Goodwin, who died after a car accident in February. The two met through the Christian Student Fellowship, and Goodwin inspired his friend to work through others' criticism and keep making art.
"Since he died, it's kind of resonated with me, the object in motion concept - just keep going and not be at rest," Wiggins said. "Just keep moving forward and don't sit there and wallow."
Mary Carlton, a Common Grounds employee in charge of putting together art exhibits at the coffee house, worked with Wiggins to set up the show.
"I've gotten a lot of really positive responses about his art work," Carlton said. "I think he's going to go far because he's a very hard worker and he really cares about what he's doing."
Wiggins was raised a Roman Catholic, and many of the pieces are inspired by his faith - his passion has devoted him both to art and his religion.
"I didn't have any direction in my life," he said. "Once I dedicated it to (Christ), I found that more opportunities popped up and I felt more at peace about what I was doing, other than freaking out about it."
Wiggins graduated with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts last month. He named his adviser, UK art professor Arturo Sandoval, as one of his mentors.
"(Sandoval) helped me out as far as giving me encouragement and letting me know that you can do art and make a way for yourself. You just find a way to make it work for you, and it will work out," Wiggins said. "He was able to guide me as far as art and religion and spirituality, and how to connect those things together."
When he's not creating new pieces, Wiggins is in the DJ booth on the radio at WRFL 88.1 FM.
According to his Web site, Wiggins especially loves drum and bass, but is interested in other genres of electronic music like techno and house. Wiggins said that growing up listening to artists such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Al Green has influenced his preference for "soulful drum and bass."
"I don't try to play a whole lot of stuff with vocals, or stuff that's too mainstream because Top-40 music is so accessible to the media," Wiggins said. "I know my music is abstract, but I love it."
His paintings and prints are selling now, but even if his art doesn't lead to a career, Wiggins said art will always be part of his life.
"Being able to reach people through my art or DJ-ing, even though I don't know how I'm going to do it; if I can do that, that's my goal," he said, "because that's going to carry me further than just making money."