Emergence: Practice and Process

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS

The entire art gallery at The Evergreen State College is filled with artwork in many media in such a way that ceiling, floor and walls become a single, colorful, walk-through installation. It’s the work of an “interdisciplinary research and creative inquiry” from an academic program called CultureLab. That program showcases experimentation and expression from an independent project in “cultural critique,” with animation, film, furniture design, ceramics, installation, painting, printmaking, sculpture and video. The exhibition runs nine days only, through June 9, in the Evergreen Gallery in the Daniel J. Evans Library Building. There’s also a film screening June 13 at 7 p.m., in the Recital Hall in the Communications Building.

CultureLab: Advanced Projects in Visual and Media Arts is co-taught by ceramics and sculpture faculty member Evan Blackwell and animation faculty member Ruth Hayes. Hayes shared this exhibition text, written by students for the show:

“Our community diverse in perspective, background and intention allows creativity and inspiration to flourish. In CultureLab, we challenged each other to turn things upside down, play them in reverse, change the music, question our intentions and sometimes, completely start over. It is an essential part of the creative process to question preconceived notions of what our work is supposed to be. Along with the criticism comes the support and comradery which manifests as short words of encouragement at crucial moments, or the simple presence of another person completely engrossed in their work in the same space at the same time. The work collected here varies widely in form and material, but the time and sweat that each person contributed to their work is a unifying reality. While the show represents a refinement of thought and practice, each of us are at a point of emergence rather than arrival. Establishing the daily habits of creativity has been a core theme of this program.”

What: Emergence: Practice and Process

Where: The Evergreen State College Art Gallery,
Library Building,
2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Friday,
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday through June 9;
reception 1-5 p.m. Thursday, June 1

How much: free

Learn more: 360-867-6000 | Evergreen Gallery

Skip to content