Downtown gallery continues enriching community’s art culture through gallery
Grand Junction – The Colorado Mesa University Department of Art and Design announced Street Art and Design at CMU — the second of four art exhibitions in 2019 that will showcase CMU students’ work. Open to the community, 437CO, the CMU downtown art gallery, will feature the exhibition throughout the month of March.The exhibition includes wheat paste, stencils, graffiti markers, and CNC cuts, all in a street art style by CMU design students. This exhibit represents the students’ love of street art and design. The exhibition includes works by approximately 50 students. Works on display were created under the direction of Suzie Garner, professor of art and Eli Hall, associate professor of graphic design.
“The talent of CMU student artists can be overstated,” said Garner. “The partnership CMU has with the downtown community has become a tremendous vehicle for communicating talent and demonstrating the ability of CMU students to create art that is accessible to the larger community.”
CMU faculty believe the downtown exhibitions can also promote enrollment in CMU’s Department of Art and Design. Professor of Art History, Meghan Bissonnette, PhD, said that “At Colorado Mesa University we equip our students with intensive studies in design, typography and web site design combined with skills in conceptual and critical thinking. Coursework introduces students to the challenges and rewards of artistic practice while allowing them to experience a broad range of ideas and approaches to design. In the process, we are training professionals and encourage our students to be life-long learners.”
Having student-art on display in a place that serves as a cultural nucleus in the community helps grow awareness of CMU programs. CMU faculty believe the gallery location helps the programs communicate with future students through the display of artwork, all-the-while growing the local art community.
The CMU downtown art gallery is located at 437 Colorado Avenue in Grand Junction, Colorado. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 12-5pm and admission is free. A public reception to celebrate the opening was underwritten by wine from Carlson Vineyards and beer from Palisade Brewing Company.
“I continue to be amazed at the creativity of our art students and am proud of their contributions that make the Grand Valley's downtown art scene more vibrant,” said CMU President Tim Foster, who visited the gallery's previous exhibit. “Our gallery’s partnership with the Downtown Development Authority is a special relationship for CMU and the downtown community.”
For more information, call the CMU Department of Art and Design at 970.248.1833 or visit coloradomesa.edu/art/gallery.