Inspired by Marfa, students create their own campus art haven
KAILIE HYDE
THE SIGNAL
There is a small city surrounded by desert sands in West Texas called Marfa.
Marfa is a well-established artist community featuring tours, galleries, museums and festivals – all dedicated to art.
Art majors Amber Kaiser, Calia Labarco Linaweaver, Kevin Cromwell, Sarah Melville and Rachel Wiley Janota traveled to Marfa last fall to explore the Chinati Festival on open-house weekend.
The Chinati Foundation, a contemporary art museum showcasing large-scale installations, hosts an open-house once a year, free of charge.
Other museums, as well as the nearby Davis and Chinati Mountains, contributed to the artists’ inspiration for their own artwork. The artists hope to share their experiences in Marfa through sculptures, paintings and photography in a new art exhibit titled “Where They Roll Up the Sidewalks.”
Marfa’s reputation for wellknown artists, lecturers and galleries drew the five artists to the small West Texas town, as well as the belief that Marfa “encompasses the landscape of Texas, but brings an artist’s touch,” said Amber Kaiser, studio art major.
Motivated by the journey, the artists agree that there is always something more to learn, something more to gain and always something more to explore.
“When They Roll Up the Sidewalks” is the first art exhibit to take place in the Arbor North Building. The building houses a new art exhibit space devoted to student art led by student initiative.
This art exhibit is special to these students, not only because it’s their first, personal art space, but also because together, their artwork tells a story.
The pieces on display represent Marfa through individual interpretations, yet show connections and tie to one another.
Many of the paintings and photographs show Marfa’s unusual landscape, including the desert sands, mountains, trees, as well as an interpretation of the town’s inhabitants.
Traveling and exploring Marfa’s surroundings, as well as other cultures, has contributed to the artists’ growth and learning. However, getting their work noticed was not an easy task for these students.
The students were required to gain approval from the Art and Design program’s faculty to use the art space. After the students assembled a detailed proposal of their ideas, art descriptions, and resumes, along with many other guidelines, the Art and Design program’s faculty accepted their work.
The students were also in charge of the funding for the artwork and are responsible for the art space. This included any equipment needed to hang their paintings and photographs, business cards or flyers promoting their work in the Arbor Building, and fixing any holes or damages made to the building after installation.
Jason Makepeace, senior lecturer in sculpture, contributed to the new art exhibit by encouraging and supporting his students to go the extra mile needed.
He helped create what is now known as SAPS, The Student Art Project Space. Makepeace believes that a new art space serves as a voice to art students.
Through hard work, initiative and a driving passion for art, these five artists were able to push their limits and achieve a new art space for themselves, as well as future art students.
“Don’t settle – do more,” Cromwell said. The artists feel that all other students can achieve the same with determination and love for what they do.
“It is us doing something because we love it,” Janota said.
“When They Roll Up the Sidewalks,” will be on display through Feb. 14. Visitation hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. There will be a closing reception Thursday, Feb. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. The reception is free and open to students, faculty and the public.
