Student/Alumni Art Featured on the Grand Opening of the Pop-up Gallery
Join Minneapolis College’s School of Design and the Arts (SODA) for the grand opening of its SODA Showcase, Nov. 8 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at City Center Pop Up Gallery, Suite 210 on the Skyway Level.
The Showcase, presented in partnership with Hennepin Theatre Trust, will highlight the creative work of current and former students from areas including Apparel Technology, Architectural Technology, Cinema, Visual Arts, Graphic and Web Design, Photography and Digital Imaging, Sound Arts, Theatre and Music. Students, alumni and faculty from each department will be available to discuss the work and answer questions.
“We are excited about this opportunity to showcase SODA works in such a highly visible off-campus exhibit space while also strengthening our relationships with downtown partners,” said Kristine Gyolai, dean of the School of Design and the Arts at Minneapolis College.
These works will be on display Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am - 1:00 p.m.
“Hennepin Theatre Trust installation technicians are working side by side with our students teaching and mentoring them on how to display their work in a public setting. This partnership and exhibit provides a real-world gallery space to prepare SODA students and alumni for the next step in their art and design careers.”
The collaboration between Minneapolis College and Hennepin Theatre Trust allows two entities with vested interest in the health and vitality of downtown Minneapolis to create new art experiences. It’s designed to support students in their professional development and also create exposure for these creative works in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.
“We’re delighted to work so closely with Minneapolis College, which shares our values and commitment to make downtown Minneapolis a welcoming and vibrant place for all to enjoy,” said Mark Nerenhausen, president and CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust. “By providing this space for students — our state’s future leaders — to exhibit their work, we are also advancing the Trust’s vision to drive cultural and economic vitality in Minnesota through leadership of the dynamic Hennepin Theatre District.”
“City Center and Hennepin Theatre Trust have a history of working together to create unexpected art experiences that help build an appreciation for arts in the area,” said Gyolai, who also credits the Ryan Companies for their vision for community retail art spaces. “This is a great opportunity for our students to further engage with the College’s downtown community partners.”
Hennepin Theatre Trust and Minneapolis College began working together several years ago when the Trust engaged students to assist in installing artwork in vacant storefronts downtown as part of the Trust’s public art program. Trust representatives mentored students and also hosted workshops and presentations on campus.
In addition, Minneapolis College faculty have served as advisors to major public art projects. When Ryan Companies approached the Trust with an opportunity to activate vacant space at City Center, the College was an obvious partner.
In the City Center gallery space, the College will host rotating exhibits and innovative works by current students and alumni. The program is supported by the City of Minneapolis Great Streets Program, City Center and Ryan Companies.
"Minneapolis has lost important community art spaces in recent years,” said Kat Eng, a student artist in the Cinema Program at Minneapolis College. “It's reassuring to have collaborations like this make a platform possible for all the different kinds of artists supported by our College."
The exhibit will feature a range of work including painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, digital design, cinema, and more.
“The showcase is an excellent opportunity to see a vast amount of art styles and forms that represent Twin Cities artists,” said Benny Burwell, Minneapolis College Associate in Visual Fine Arts alumni. “One of the best parts of our metro area is the mix of cultures and diverse backgrounds, and it is fun to see everyone's story through their art in this space."
