Building Bridges Showcase and Opening Reception to Feature Art, Stories from Campus Community
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
DATE: Wednesday, April 11, 2018
TIME: 12-7 p.m.
WHERE: Fine Arts Center Atrium, UMass Amherst
The event, which is free and open to the public, will celebrate creative work by staff, students and faculty from the UMass Amherst community. It features an exhibition of worker art, displays by immigrant workers, art installations, food, workshops and performances.
An abbreviated schedule includes:
- Noon-2 p.m. - Music, food and workshops
- 2-5 p.m. - Open viewing for art on display
- 5-7 p.m. - Music, food and performances
This one-day showcase is the culmination of several Building Bridges projects, including the development of three art installations and two staff enrichment courses: “Our Immigrant Voices,” which seeks to amplify the voices of immigrant workers on campus; and “Showcasing Worker Artists at UMass,” which explores ways of highlighting art created by UMass employees.
The Building Bridges art installations feature cards designed by campus community members during the spring semester. Each card individually answers the questions: “What differences do you want to bridge and/or connect, and how can we accomplish this goal?” When assembled, these cards create a mosaic that spells out the words “building bridges.” The mosaic is then displayed on an 11-foot tower featuring the phrase “building bridges” in multiple languages.
In addition to these installations, the stories and photos of participants from the “Our Immigrant Voices” class will be on view, as well as art created by staff members who are part of the “Showcasing Worker Artists at UMass” class.
This event is part of the Building Bridges campus initiative, which is designed to foster new connections among UMass community members who come from greatly varied backgrounds and hold differing perspectives.
For more information, visit www.umass.edu/diversity/building-bridges or watch the video.