The excitement of ArtPrize is coming to a close downtown, which welcomes excitement for a new art exhibit on the Allendale Campus.

Grand Valley State University’s Fall Arts Celebration presents the “Arte Argentino Actual/Contemporary Argentine Art” in the Art Gallery in the Performing Arts Center beginning today, with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m.

“I love ArtPrize and enjoy all the art, I just wish sometimes I didn’t have to go downtown for it,” said Kayla Carr, a GVSU senior. “Having the exhibit on the Allendale Campus will help students who haven’t been able to go downtown to ArtPrize experience great art and possibly push them to visit downtown and the rest of the exhibits.”

South American art will be reflected in the exhibit featuring an eclectic number of paintings, sculptures and photographs by Argentine artists such as Juan Batalla, Daniel Barreto, Pedro Cugnasco, Gretchen Minnhaar and more.

Many of the artists have had their work displayed all around the world, in places such as New York, Argentina, Spain and even West Michigan.

GVSU has an established relationship with Batalla, a sculptor who works with various crafts, and his colleague Barreto, who is a mixed-media artist. Several of their pieces are displayed in GVSU’s galleries and collections. Among them is Batalla’s “Aeromante,” which is located in the DeVos Center on the Pew Campus.

Batalla and Barreto have traveled from Argentina for the exhibit and will bring some of their new works.

“I really enjoy looking at the art, especially ones from other cultures,” said Diane Russick, a GVSU alumna. “You can really see the difference in cultures through the pieces.”

The exhibit will include various sculptures and paintings as well as works in a variety of media, including digital photography and other forms.

The exhibit will also include a wall of 57 photographs called “Imagine Buenos Aires” that was curated by Zulema Moret, the director of Latin American Studies at GVSU. The wall will depict the city of Buenos Aires interpreted by a group of 12 photographers for a view of the city not usually seen by casual tourists.

The Argentine exhibit will remain free and open to the public until Nov. 4. The Fall Arts Celebration exhibition will be joined with other series of music, dance, film, video and visiting artists programs throughout October. For more details, visit www.gvsu.edu/artgallery.

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A musical accompaniment

“Music of South America”

Artists: Pablo Mahave-Veglia on cello, Carlos de la Barrera on guitar and Helen Mariais on the piano

Oct. 11, 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Sherman Van Solkema Recital Hall in the Performing Arts Center