Community Outreach

Community outreach is an important focus of the gallery’s programs. Through a variety of outreach activities, the program seeks to reach out to the local and regional communities in an effort to enrich, expand and enhance the cultural climate of those communities. Specific outreach projects serve to expand the audiences’ awareness of and accessibility to the arts and promote an understanding of the importance of the arts in culture

Left: ISU students helping to install an interactive community-based installation work by artist Christopher Hicks entitled, September Memorial Sodaflower Project. The piece, a field of red, white and blue flowers made from recycled plastic soda bottles, was created in memory of the victims of 9/11.
Right: Elementary school students on a field trip to the University Art Gallery. Students learned about some of the basic elements and principles of art and then had a chance to inspect the work up close.

Visiting Artist Workshops

The gallery’s Visiting Artist / Scholar Program consistently brings a diverse array of professionals from the field to Indiana State University. Workshops present exceptional opportunities for students and teachers to learn new techniques, find out about innovations within the industry or develop their own creative perspectives.

Left: Visiting artist Kathryn Clark of Twinrocker Handmade Paper conducts a papermaking workshop on traditional and creative papermaking techniques.
Center: Contemporary printmaker Keith McIntyre, from Scotland, presents a workshop on his own brand of interdisciplinary printmaking.
Right: Artist Hiram Ball of Ball Atelier, Inc. conducts a life-casting workshop that incorporates new and innovative casting materials.

Gallery Talks / Class Discussions

The mission of the University Art Gallery is to offer direct experience with works of art in an effort to provide an enriched understanding and appreciation for the visual arts. Gallery talks are an effective tool for such an educational focus and are regularly presented by visiting artists and curators and gallery staff. Through gallery talks, groups of visitors from the university and the local community are able to learn about the unique qualities of the visual arts or discover the innovative ways in which artists approach their own work. Gallery talks are designed for a wide range of visitors from elementary and high school groups to senior citizens.

The University Art Gallery and its programs offer unique resources for teachers and students alike. Within the gallery’s yearly schedule, exhibitions are designed to address a diverse array of technical, aesthetic and thematic concerns. Classes from a variety of disciplines often use the visual presentations as points of discussion and visiting artists and scholars have the opportunity to address students in the classroom.

To arrange for a gallery talk, class discussion, or if you are interested in bringing your class to the University Art Gallery, please contact the director at 812-237-3787.

Left: Visiting curator James Nestor presents a gallery talk to the public about his exhibition entitled, New Works / New Europe.
Right: Visiting artist Noah Jemisin speaks to an Art Appreciation class about his art, his influences and his career.

Art Day

Each year, the Department of Art at Indiana State University hosts Art Day. This event gives high school students the opportunity to participate in a variety of exciting workshops held in the studios and lecture rooms of the Department of Art at Indiana State University. All workshops are conducted by ISU faculty and graduate students. Most of these workshops emphasizing a hands-on approach to learning. To learn more about Art Day, contact the Department of Art at (812) 237-3697
or email artdept@indstate.edu.

Department of Art Exhibitions / Lectures

Annually, the University Art Gallery is host to the ISU Department of Art Faculty Exhibition in September, the Fall and Spring Graduate Thesis Exhibitions at the end of each semester, and the ISU Juried Student Exhibition, traditionally held in February. In addition, a Department of Art faculty member of art history presents a lecture.

Left: Dr. dele jegede, Chair of the Department of Art, with Best of Show winner, Amy Young, at the 2002 ISU Juried Student Exhibition.
Right: Installation view of the 2003 Department of Art Faculty Exhibition.