The Worker Artists Group, part of the Office of Equity and Inclusion's Building Bridges initiative, will launch its annual Random Acts of Kindness Through Art campaign on Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. in Flint Laboratory 106 at 90 Campus Center Way.

Campus members are invited to view artwork, pick up free art, meet some of the artists and view the current worker artist exhibition, “Reflections on Childhood Joy.” 

Building Bridges also invites community to attend the 7^th annual Building Bridges 2024 showcase, taking place April 2 from noon to 7 p.m. at the Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts. 

Image

Since 2017, Building Bridges, a collaborative effort between The Partnership for Worker Education, Human Resources, Civic Engagement and Service-Learning and the Office of Equity and Inclusion, has served as a public art and engagement initiative on campus that fosters new connections among UMass students, faculty, staff and community members. Engagement in critical issues was the cornerstone of the Building Bridges formation. It is an opportunity to become actively engaged draws on the power of solidarity and creative expression, bringing people together to build bridges across differences. This campaign is based on the premise that giving the community something beautiful, handmade, and meaningfully crafted brings joy to both the artist and the recipient. 

The art, which is printed on card stock and features the creative work of campus employees, includes photographs, mixed media, illustrations, stained glass, and more. After the launch, the cards will be distributed to high-traffic areas on campus, such as the dining halls and Student Union, so that as many UMass community members as possible can enjoy them.

By centering UMass Amherst workers, Building Bridges has become an invaluable outlet for the university's diverse populations to find community and express themselves.

“I have really enjoyed the Building Bridges classes,” said Carol Landry, a second shift maintainer and longtime Building Bridges participant.  Another participant expressed, “Being a part of Building Bridges gives me the hopes and wishes to be a part of the art that comes from the community.”