July 24, 2003
Student art travels to retirement community
Each year, students in the Master of Fine Arts program in the School of Art show their work at the Henry Art Gallery just about the time they’re picking up their degrees. The exhibit is the culmination of their education, but when it’s over, they get their work back and they’re on their own.
This year, however, the graduates are getting a little head start in their professional careers as the exhibit travels for the first time. It opens today at the University House at Issaquah retirement community, 22975 Black Nugget Road.
New graduate artwork in a retirement community? Well, this isn’t just any retirement community. University House at Issaquah, like the first University House in Wallingford, is affiliated with the UW Retirement Association and most of its residents have some connection to the University. At both locations, rotating art exhibits appear in the lobby where they can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
It was University House’s curator Peggy Weiss (she’s also the art program manager at Harborview) who had the idea to exhibit the MFA graduates’ work in Issaquah. ERA Care Communities, the developer and manager of both retirement facilities, is already affiliated with the UW Retirement Association and with the School of Nursing, and is interested in building other alliances with the University, she said.
“I thought, why not the School of Art?”
Weiss went to see the exhibit at the Henry and asked gallery officials about moving the show. They referred her to the administrative coordinator of academic advising for the School of Art, Kate Bagley.
“When she approached me I was really excited for my students,” Bagley said. “When you’re just starting a professional career, getting your name out is very important. This was a chance for them to have their work seen by a completely different group of people.”
The MFA students had to come to see Bagley to pick up warrants for their graduation, so Weiss arranged to be there during that time.
“She just sat in the mail room for a while and talked to students as they came in,” Bagley said.
All 15 students in the graduating class readily agreed to have their work shown in Issaquah, although in some cases it will be different work than that seen in the Henry. “This is a residential setting, not a gallery, and some of the work was just too big,” Weiss explained. “But all the artists are represented.”
The exhibit includes a wide variety of works, including pieces in fiber, ceramics, paint, sculpture, photography and visual communication. In September some of the artists will present a panel discussion about their work for University House residents.
“Our residents love the exhibits,” Weiss said. “These are people who are used to being intellectually stimulated, and artwork is one thing that can do that.”
The public is welcome to view the MFA exhibit at University House. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. The exhibit will run through Oct. 12.
