All Rudy Bostic needs to create a work of art is a piece of sturdy cardboard and some leftover house paint.

And talent, of course.

Bostic is one of more than a dozen artists whose work is currently on display at the University of Dayton’s Marian Library.

The free exhibit, “Seeing the Savior: Christians in the Visual Arts,” will be in town through Aug. 31.

The traveling show comes to Dayton from Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) and brings together an eclectic group of artists who work in a variety of media. All of the art reflects significant events in the life of Jesus Christ, including his birth, ministry, passion, Ascension and return.

“When it comes to great historical figures, Jesus has always been a drawing card,” says Father Johann Roten, director of research and special projects for the Marian Library.

The artists in the current show reflect a variety of ethnic and artistic backgrounds. Although most are Americans, there also are prints from Japanese artist Sadao Watanabe, colorful cotton molas made by the Kuna women of the San Blas Islands of Panama and block prints by Viera Hlonikova of Slovakia.

Look closely as Bostick’s colorful interpretation of “The Last Supper” and you can actually see the corrugated cardboard on which it’s painted.

A self-taught painter from Savannah, Ga., Bostick says he began using leftover paint and cardboard because it was cheap.

“We had a Bible with pictures in it, and I would have been lost without it,” he has written. “That was the inspiration for a lot of my work.”

Those who regularly visit the Marian Library will recognize some of the artists in this show whose work has been highlighted in the past: Nancy Goes of Colorado, who works in intricate bead embroidery; Joan Bohlig of Minnesota, who creates intricate etchings with Scriptural passages as borders; and John Swanson of Los Angeles, whose amazing detailed serigraph stories are influenced by Islamic and medieval miniatures, Russian iconography, Latin American folk art and Mexican muralists.

Laura James, a New York artist of Antiguan heritage, has contributed some charming folk art pieces and incorporates frames into the paintings. The painted frame, says Father Roten, traces its history to Polish art, and has become popular once again.

The curator for the show was Sandra Boden.

If you’d like to see or learn more about the exhibit, visit the Marian Library’s website. There you’ll find a virtual exhibit — all of the images, as well as a lot of interesting information about the artists and their work. The library’s impressive site, incidentally, allows you to view all of the past exhibits UD has hosted over the years. (http://bit.ly/MzHYy7)

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or mmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.