The Building Bridges Worker Artist Group Presents a New Exhibition: Building Bridges and Belonging

Beginning in the summer of 2022, the Building Bridges Worker Artist group put out a call for creative work to fellow staff members inviting them to respond to the prompt, “What does belonging mean to you?”  The resulting exhibition “Building Bridges and Belonging” is on display through Friday, Nov. 4 at the Student Union Art Gallery and features the creative work of more than 30 UMass staff members, present and past.

You are invited to attend our closing receptions that cover all working shifts, including those workers who keep campus going overnight: Thursday, Nov. 3 from 4 to 6 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 4 from 6 to 7 a.m., and from noon to 2 p.m.

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The exhibition includes sculpture, painting, pastels, woodcarving, stitching, handmade fishing flys, books, a video game and much more. The diversity of responses is remarkable as are the reflections provided by many of the contributing artists. The theme of belonging is complicated and explored through personal, family and global histories as well as contemporary experiences here on campus and beyond.

To support the evolution of this creative work, Building Bridges hosted a series of discussion sessions where participating staff members discussed the prompt, offered each other support and considered ways to illuminate the theme of belonging in their creative work. And in the spirit of belonging, general submissions were welcomed in order to acknowledge that not everyone may have the time and space to complete something new. Furthermore, the exhibition includes one of the Building Bridges Art Installation towers, work from retired staff as well as deceased members of our Worker Voice and Visibility programming, dating back to the early 1990s.

There are 32 participating artists: Aman Chuwan, Andrew Humpel, Carey Kelly, Carol Landry, Chelsea Reilly, CL Dukes, Collin Glasgow, David Wilson, David Nguyen, Dede Beach, Donna Vanasse, Frank Aronson, Hoa Le, Jennifer Jacobson, Katie Sadler, Lisa Korpiewski, Malini Sinha, Mara Martins, Matt Thornton, Michelle St. Martin, Midori Tabery, Myles Sanders, Nicolas (Nick) Scarrci, Owen Reese, Paul Papierski, Sally Prasch, Sara Littlecrow Russell, Sarah Jarman, Thoun Siv, Virginia McLaurin, Wayne Gagnon and Yessica Claros de Funes.

Participating artists work across campus in many different departments including: Advancement, College of Natural Science, College of Nursing, College of Engineering, Dining, Facilities and Campus Services, Human Research Protection Office, Human Resources, IT, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, Physics, Registrar, Student Engagement and Student Affairs and Campus Life.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The gallery is located on the lower level of the Student Union building.

For more information, contact Project Director Jacob Carter 413-545-1826 or jacarter@umass.edu

Building Bridges is a collaboration among the Partnership for Worker Education, Office of Human Resources; The Office of Equity and Inclusion and Civic Engagement and Service-Learning.