“It may be about changes, but it sounds boring. It’s an Evolution. Evolution of Adam. Me,” says senior artist Adam Koger.

The Washburn Art Building on campus, currently houses Koger‘s “evolution.” The exhibit is required as part of Washburn University’s transformational experience for those graduating with a bachelor in fine arts degree.  Koger’s emphasis for his degree is photography.   It’s within these photographs and other works of art that show his own evolution.

Koger’s first college experience was at Kansas State University.  Koger spent four years at the university but left in 2004, without obtaining a degree.

“I was taking things in the wrong direction, partying too much late at night and enrolling in 8:30 a.m. classes,” said Koger. “It’d be easy to miss a class ,and from there, it just spiraled.”

He started attending Washburn University in    August of 2007.

Over the years, Koger has photographed about 12 abandoned houses, with several hundreds of photos to show for it.  “Evolution A” showcases the best of these.

At first, Koger didn’t know exactly what he wanted to capture.  Driving back roads and admiring the countryside were a start.  The drive was peaceful and relaxing for Koger.

“I wasn’t looking for abandoned houses. They started drawing me,” said Koger.

Shortly after beginning to photograph abandoned houses, Koger felt connected.

“Two years ago, I became a single father,” said Koger. “The mother decided she didn’t want to be a mom. I was left to raise a (now four year old) daughter by myself and finish school.  I felt kind of abandoned at the time.”

To deal with these emotions, Koger channeled them through his photos, explaining that it was therapeutic for him to get that out through his art.

Although Koger’s feelings of abandonment left him feeling sad and depressed at first, after almost three years of parenthood his feelings changed for the better.

“It’s not that I feel sad anymore, now it’s almost become an abandoning of those first abandoned feelings,” said Koger.

Kroger’s “Evolution A” exhibit will remain on display in the Art Building until Friday, October 14.  A gallery talk will be held today (Wednesday October 12) at noon.  The gallery talk is also part of the Washburn transformational experience, and gives the artist a chance to explain and answer questions about their exhibit.  The gallery talk is open to all faculty and students. It will be held at the Art Building in front of Koger‘s work.