On Saturday Sept. 14, Grand Valley State University’s Department of Visual and Media Arts presented their “Endless Possibilities” showcase. The showcase was held at The Morton in downtown Grand Rapids, where art was featured on multiple floors of the historic building. The event took place from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and was free to the public. 

The event showcased interdisciplinary artworks from faculty members within the department. These pieces of artwork included animation, ceramics, digital art, film, graphic design, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, video art and more. 

While the opening night was Sept. 14, “Endless Possibilities” will be showing through Oct. 27, and during that time special performances featuring the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance (MTD), artist talks and workshops will be offered free of charge as well. 

This was the first time the event had taken place. Film and Video Production and Photography merged with Art and Design in 2017, and all involved wanted to show the community what this new merged department represents, and so came the idea for “Endless Possibilities.”

“We’re proud of our new departments and the possibilities they provide for the students and the community,” said Professor of Film and Video Production Kim Roberts. “We felt this would be a great way to re-introduce ourselves to the region and to demonstrate that GVSU is forward looking, dynamic and collaborative.”

Roberts said that their motivation for the “Endless Possibilities” showcase was “driven by the need to serve our students and community.”

“This exhibition provides an opportunity for the students to observe and interact with our work. Through this exhibition we as faculty demonstrate our own vulnerabilities as artists and share our creative process and passions,” Roberts said. “The coordinator of this exhibition, Professor of Illustration Durwin Talon, has a strong sense of community and wanted to build an opportunity for the arts at GVSU to come together for a common purpose. He really led the way and joined with Richard App from NOMAD Gallery to make it happen. Their excitement was contagious.”

The Department of Visual and Media Arts plans to do more of these showcases in the future. More collaborations are expected to take place as faculty and new departments spend more time together. 

“That’s the beauty of the arts,” Roberts said. “They can partner with anyone and bring new insights and dimension to any project so that’s the meaning behind the title, ‘Endless Possibilities.’”

Roberts has a personal goal for the “Endless Possibilities” showcase herself: to have one of her pieces featured. She said that she is currently working on a video project that is intended to contribute to conversations about gun safety and control. 

She is looking forward to receiving constructive criticism on her project and concept idea. Roberts said that a critiquing process is incorporated into each and every Visual and Media Arts class, which she believes to be a skill that will serve GVSU students for a lifetime. 

Roberts said that putting on the “Endless Possibilities” showcase is beneficial to the GVSU community by saying, “The arts benefit all communities in their ability to challenge, lift, comfort and inspire us.”