EMERGENCE Art Exhibition Curated by Teen Art Group
Reposted from ISU Website
University Galleries of Illinois State University is pleased to present EMERGENCE from June 1 through July 16, 2023.
All events are free and open to the public. Visit the exhibit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at University Galleries of Illinois State University, 11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal, IL 61761.
University Galleries’ Teen Art Group, composed of students from Bloomington High School, developed the concept, theme, and layout of EMERGENCE. As the title suggests, this exhibition focuses on the process of “emerging” into the stage of adulthood. The organizers determined that all works should represent the journey out of adolescence and whatever the passing of this threshold means to the artist. They invited students from regional high schools to submit works for the exhibition. Participating artists are students at Bloomington High School, Bloomington; Fieldcrest High School, Minonk; Normal Community High School, Normal; and Washington Community High School, Washington.
Teen Art Group members include Jocelyn Anderson, Khushi Galpalli, Zoe Hernandez, Delilah Higgins, Will Hopper, and Adair Jackson. Exhibiting artists include Kellie Chen, Madison Cummings, Bella Gray, Maggie Grugan, Delilah Higgins, Will Hopper, Aaralyn McCullough, Maya Peterson, Nevaeh Spires, and AJ Westley.
The Teen Art Group was founded in 2018 at University Galleries by Kendra Paitz (director and chief curator) in partnership with Monica Estabrook (Bloomington High School art teacher). The inaugural year was supported by a grant from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation—Mirza Arts and Culture Fund. Each academic year, participants engage in professional development activities, take field trips, and curate an exhibition. The 2022–2023 cohort was led by Paitz, Estabrook, and Tanya Scott (curator of education). The group took a field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Cultural Center; participated in art-making workshops, meetings, and exhibition tours at University Galleries; met with artist Avantika Bawa within her site-responsive installation at University Galleries; and organized this exhibition.
Illinois Prairie Community Foundation awarded a Mirza/Arts & Culture Grant to University Galleries of Illinois State to help fund this program. If you would like to support programs like this, donate online.