Students watch a redesigned comedy trailer for the movie the Shining at the Herman Maril Gallery in the Art/Sociology building as a part of last year’s ArtWalk
Although sophomore Yvette Yu is a finance and information systems major, she has always had an interest in art. So when she was asked to organize ArtWalk UMD, she jumped at the opportunity.
“It’s really funny because I never realized there are five galleries on campus until I started organizing the event,” she said. “I thought that was really cool, too.”
Yu isn’t alone; many students are unaware that there are any art galleries on this campus, let alone five.
ArtWalk UMD, a campus tour taking place Thursday, seeks to increase awareness of the galleries by providing students with the opportunity to experience all five in one night.
The event begins at 5 p.m. in Stamp Student Union, where participants will tour the Stamp Gallery.
The tour then continues to Cole Field House and The David C. Driskell Center. The next stop is the MFA studios in the Art-Sociology Building, followed by the Kibel and Linear galleries in the Architecture Building. The tour concludes in The Art Gallery in the Art-Sociology Building after stopping by the Herman Maril Gallery, also in the Art-Sociology Building.
Each of the five galleries strives to represent a different mission, evident in the artwork on display. The Driskell Center features African-American art, the Kibel Gallery highlights architecture designs, the Herman Maril Gallery exhibits students’ artwork, and both the Stamp Gallery and The Art Gallery feature works by established or emerging artists with provocative and educational themes, according to the Stamp Gallery.
“The ArtWalk concludes at The Art Gallery, where we will be holding an open reception from 5 to 7 p.m. for the 2015 MFA Thesis Exhibition,” said Taras Matla, this university’s arts administration manager. “It’s the Department of Art’s annual showcase of MFA degree candidates who will graduate this May.”
The reception is open to anyone who wishes to attend, and free food and drinks will be provided.
In 2013, former student Jen Clifford started the ArtWalk at the Stamp Gallery. Yu, a Stamp Gallery employee, was asked by her student manager to help organize the project. She contacted each of the five galleries to make sure several featured artists and gallery managers could speak and offer insights to tour attendees.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the art galleries on campus because I noticed that there are not a lot of opportunities like these to increase the awareness of art programs,” Yu said. “This is a great way for students to learn more about the available opportunities or where they can learn more about art overall.”
The five art galleries feature works by graduate and undergraduate students as well as distinguished artists, such as Kara Walker and architect Aki Ishida.
