Pitt’s Department of Studio Arts is marking the 50th anniversary of its founding in a unique way — through an art exhibition of works submitted by 50 former students.
A call went out to nearly 600 studio arts alumni to submit a piece that would fit within an ordinary shipping box. Works began pouring in from around the country — drawings, watercolors, sculpture, video and more — and “Unboxed” was born.
A first of its kind for the department, the exhibition runs through Oct. 12 at the University Art Gallery, Frick Fine Arts Building, Schenley Drive.
At the recent opening reception, dozens of former studio arts majors, faculty and community members had a chance to learn and discover, connect or reconnect. It also was a chance for current arts students to meet the alumni they had been hearing about.
“If you look through the show, 80 percent of the work submitted was made in the past two years,” said Delanie Jenkins, studio arts associate professor and chair. “Whether alumni graduated in 1967, 1976, 1993 or 2017, they are still engaged in creative work and that is exciting!”
Plans are in the works for a homecoming reception and tours in the art gallery from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, featuring sound and movement demonstrations throughout the afternoon, choreographed by alumni Staycee Pearl of Staycee Pearl Dance Project. An open house will reveal current art projects and students will demonstrate various fabrication tools.
Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.