Hampden-Sydney academic courses challenge students in unique and meaningful ways, encouraging them to explore new forms of self-expression. The arts, in particular, offer an opportunity to express oneself creatively, whether through traditional mediums like painting or through more physical, innovative approaches. Kent Bero ’25 embraced such an approach in his visual arts course, taking on the challenge of carrying a 15-foot, 100-pound log on his shoulders for a week around campus, using this non-traditional art form to uncover deeper layers of meaning in the process.
Taught by Elliott Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Ray Kleinlein, Off the Wall: New Genres in Visual Arts (VISU 285) focuses on non-traditional forms of art that go beyond paintings, drawings, and 2D design. Students in the course explore various mediums, including object sculptures, installations, performance and body art, land and environmental art, and more. Inspired by his love of nature, Kent spent time on the Wilson Trail and proposed carrying a heavy log he found in a feat of performance art.
“I originally set out for this to be a personal project—something reflective and solitary—but as the week unfolded, it became much more interactive and meaningful,” Kent says. “I was more intentional with my time and movements, and over 20 people offered to help, which was a powerful testament to the kindness and brotherhood at Hampden-Sydney. I had never engaged in performance or body art before and didn’t have a strong opinion on it, but after this experience, I’ve come to appreciate how performative work that challenges both the self and the community can inspire real growth and introspection. In the end, not carrying the object felt like a luxury—a reminder of the privilege and relief that comes with being unburdened.”
Kent’s project raises points of masculinity, religion, spirituality, pain, and endurance—blending physical strain with symbolic meaning. By carrying a 100-pound log on his shoulders for an entire week, he confronted traditional ideas of strength and perseverance while inviting reflection on personal sacrifice, ritual, and the burdens we all carry, whether visible or unseen. His work transforms an act of endurance into a powerful statement on identity, struggle, and the human condition.
“This, I think, is a life lesson for all of us, particularly Hampden-Sydney students,” Kleinlein says. “While the piece may be different, it speaks volumes about dedication, hard work, and character. Kent set a tough challenge for himself, but he stuck with it, persevered, and achieved his goal. At an all-male college, the physicality of the piece holds extra significance as it represents strength and endurance. It is also performative and hypermasculine. We all carry mental, emotional, and psychological burdens, but Kent made this a physical one.”
“The course really helped me unlock my creativity and approach both art and everyday challenges with a new mindset,” Kent says. “This project, especially, taught me two important lessons: perseverance and humility. I learned perseverance by choosing to carry the log rather than resist it—it became a physical symbol of the mental, emotional, and spiritual weight I was processing. Humility came through acknowledging my limits. The log was heavy, and pretending otherwise would’ve made the experience even harder. I had to admit when I was struggling and be willing to accept help. Non-traditional art can seem unfamiliar, but once I fully engaged with it, it pushed me creatively and opened the door to meaningful connections.”
Art in its many forms can bring up a wide range of emotions, questions, and conversations—it challenges our perspectives and helps us connect with ourselves and others. Kent’s project is a powerful example of this: through a physically demanding performance, he explored themes of masculinity, endurance, spirituality, and the weight—both literal and symbolic—that we carry in our lives. His piece reminds us that art isn’t always confined to galleries or canvases; sometimes, it’s lived and felt.