A new art gallery on Michigan State University’s campus is breathing new life into the second floor of the MSU Union.
Managed by the Department of Art, Art History and Design, the MSU Union Art Gallery opened its doors to the public on Oct. 14, bringing the number of gallery spaces managed by the department to four, including the two galleries in Kresge Art Center and (SCENE) Metrospace.
“It will give us an opportunity to engage a whole new audience that may not be familiar with our student galleries,” said Chris Corneal, chair of the Department of Art, Art History and Design. “The MSU Union is the doorway to campus for many guests and we look forward to taking advantage of this high visibility to showcase exciting works created by artists and designers with links to the past, present and future of MSU.”
Whereas the Kresge Art Center galleries focus on current student work and (SCENE) Metrospace has more of a community outreach component, the MSU Union Art Gallery will primarily feature work from Department of Art, Art History and Design alumni.
“One of the things we in the Art Department like to do is invite our alumni back to highlight the exciting things they’ve done, not only for their sake, but because our current students get to see what our alumni have gone on to do,” said Jacquelynn Sullivan, director of galleries. “All the alumni I have spoken to have been really excited and receptive to the idea.”
The first exhibit at the MSU Union Art Gallery is the Women in Graphic Design show, which runs until Nov. 20, featuring the work of 10 alumnae who have graduated from MSU’s graphic design program.
Throughout the year, four to five exhibitions will be held at the MSU Union Art Gallery with each exhibition lasting eight weeks.
The new gallery also has a graduate assistantship appointment connected to the space. The student appointed to that position will help with every step in the process of each exhibit, including planning, curating, installing and de-installing. Chelsea Young, a master’s of fine arts candidate in the studio art program who is studying printmaking, was selected as the first person to fill this appointment.
“Chelsea spent the last two years working at the Broad Art Museum,” Sullivan said. “This will be a good opportunity for her to apply the skills she’s already gained and take them a step further and to have a little bit more of an authoritative role in the process.”
The MSU Union Art Gallery is open noon-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-7 p.m. Friday; and 10-a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.