As students walked by the Teaching and Learning Center at the University of Idaho Sept. 2, many noticed a man encouraging people to draw on a bed-sheet stretched across an easel.
The man, Christian missionary Paul Wislotski, said he has been traveling across America for over 30 years, starting in 1981.
As part of his adventures he went to the 25th anniversary of Woodstock in 1994, where he made art for the first time and was inspired to begin a cultural revolution.
Joleen Evans | Argonaut
Paul Wislotski explains the process of his art and how he spreads his message.
“I want the 90’s generation to stick out in world history as the generation that cares, the generation that started a revolution with bed-sheets and pastels, started something special,” Wislotski said.
He said when he returned to his home in Florida, he experimented with different materials and discovered the sheets and pastels worked best.
By 1999, Wislotski managed to visit all 50 state capitols. He said for the past 22 years he has been traveling around the U.S., aiming to visit at least two colleges in each state and add the students’ creations to his extensive collection of America’s art.
“I’ve got the whole Northeast done, from Virginia all the way up,” he said.
Wislotski said he originally traveled primarily by hitch-hiking, but now drives his van, “Nancy,” to college towns and encourages students to draw on the bed-sheets with pastels, both of which he provides.
He said in 2016 he wants to finish the West.
Since February he has completed his mission in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
He said his next stops will be Idaho, Montana and Utah.
Wislotski said he wants to show people Jesus is not scary.
“I get the chance to sow the seed into people’s lives and let them know that Jesus is not someone who comes and yells at you, he’s not a convicting person, he is a loving, awesome God, and if you, if you allow him into your life, great things will happen,” he said.
Wislotski said the focus should not be on churches and specific religions, but on personal relationships with Jesus.
Kaity Kreuger, a student who contributed to one of the bed-sheets, said although she doesn’t completely agree with Wislotski’s message, she likes his idea of unifying people through art.
“I think it is cool to have an art piece everyone can contribute to,” she said.
Wislotski said so far he has collected hundreds of bed-sheets. But sometimes he leaves the artwork with the college if it will hang them up.
The art is mostly created by Millennials, although Wislotski said he also encouraged families to contribute and create something together.
“One day we’ll have a massive exhibition of them so people can see what they’ve done,” he said.
Sarah Ashby, a freshman at the university, said as an art enthusiast, the bed-sheet idea makes her happy. She said although Wislotski is a Christian missionary, he doesn’t talk too much about it, focusing instead on the art. She said she thinks art draws people together.
“You don’t have to speak any certain language to understand art,” she said.
Scott Pierce, a student studying music, stopped to study the piece. He said two of his children are fine artists, and Wislotski’s work intrigues him.
Wislotski said he himself was not involved in art before he began working with the bed-sheets.
“I wasn’t an artist until I started doing these, and some people say I’m not an artist because I don’t draw on them. Well, I’m the artist. The people are my paintbrushes,” he said.
Wislotski sets certain guidelines for the art, not allowing symbols, signs or the covering of others’ art. He does, however, encourage students to add details to the existing art and fill in any blank spaces. He said he gives them suggestions, nudging them to make what his imagination creates.
“I’m the conductor of a symphony of art,” Wislotski said.
Nina Rydalch
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