Eastern Michigan University’s art department is hosting the Alumni Art exhibition from Sept. 3 through Oct. 4 in the Ford Hall gallery from 10 p.m.-5 p.m.
The free art gallery event is held here on campus, and it highlights graduated students’ artwork. A jury of faculty members at EMU’s art department selected a number of artworks done by students that are exhibited. The event is entirely staffed by EMU’s art students.
“I was the only faculty member,” said Gregory Tom, the gallery program director. “Many undergraduate students got involved in putting together this art exhibit. All I did was make sure everything is in place.”
The art department held an open reception at the gallery Wednesday with many of the artists in attendance.
Robin Wilt, one of the featured artists, created two pieces for the exhibition, one of which was influenced by The Triumphal Arch, also known as the Arch of Maximilian I. The Triumphal Arch was commissioned by the Holy Roman Empire. Wilt describes the tactics of this piece as a 16th Century’s way of “the internet.” Each piece was commissioned on paper and pasted around the kingdom.
Wilt’s piece, entitled “Meta Arcadia” was created in the same fashion, a multiple set of strips pasted together and detailed with black crayon.
The piece has the words “Metadata Arcadia,” along with the alphabet, with the message conveyed by Wilt that “you build your own Arcadia with what you have to build with.”
The gallery includes a variety of artworks, including sculptures, paintings and charcoal drawings.
One of the pieces featured consists of four sculpted faces painted with vibrant colors and studded with beautifully designed beads, which gave it a dimensional look. The exhibit includes the best artworks brought by students who graduated from the university.
The event is located on the first floor of Ford Hall. , the art department had an open reception from 4 p.m.-7p.m. and many of the artists will be there.
“I think it’s really cool that the school organized an event to highlight old students’ work and exhibit it,” said Leah Ranallsburg. “This is also beneficial for the graduated students so they can see how they have improved.”
Staff Writer Amy Cooper contributed to this report
