GV Art Gallery holds conversation series event

The Grand Valley State University Art Gallery held another installment of their “Unpacking the Exhibition” conversation series. 

The series encompasses a slew of virtual discussions that feature professionals from a variety of backgrounds, attempting to unpack some of the bigger ideas from the gallery’s fall 2021 exhibition, “Honest and Unrefined: Art Outside the Academy.”

Taking place on Oct. 22, this event featured the Learning Manager of the gallery, Amanda Rainey, and the Placement Coordinator of the GVSU Recreational Therapy Program, Sarah Bradley. 

The two women conducted a conversation on art and healing, focusing specifically on the intuitive, and sometimes consoling, nature of the creative process. They explored the motivation of self-taught artists, as well as the way that creativity is used in clinical therapies. 

The event was free to any who wished to attend, although an RSVP was required. 

Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts ‘Carousel Week’

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) recently held “Carousel Week” to help fundraise for renovations to the 1928 Spillman Carousel. 

The carousel has been housed by GRPM in the Cook Carousel Pavilion for the past 25 years. 

Major renovations to the carousel began in 2017 with help from the Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation. Now, the museum needs help (and some extra funding) to finish them. 

From Oct. 18 through Oct. 24 the museum had carousel trivia games, behind-the-scenes footage of their renovation process, demonstrations (such as how handmade jewels are made for the carousel), virtual meet and greets with GRPM staff for special presentations, and information about how visitors can help.

GV holds piano festival for young artists

The Grand Valley State University Music, Theatre and Dance Department recently held the 20th/21st Century Piano Festival for elementary, middle and high school students. 

The concert was held on Oct. 23 in the Louis Armstrong Theatre in the Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. 

Performances took place throughout the entirety of the day, with each student playing one piece from the 20th or 21st century. 

All pieces were required to be no more than six minutes and memorized by the student (an exception could have been made if the student was playing a work that used experimental contemporary techniques).

Teachers of participants received an evaluation of the student’s performance by GVSU faculty members. Each participant received a certificate, and those who had participated for three or more years received a trophy. 

GV Music Department to hold faculty artist cello recital

The Grand Valley State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance (MTD) will be holding a faculty artist recital featuring Professor Pablo Mahave-Veglia on the cello. 

On Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Mahave-Veglia will be performing in the Sherman van Solkema Recital Hall located in the Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale campus. 

The recital is free and open to all who wish to attend.