Alumni artist display their work
As a new addition to Homecoming this year, the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences held an Alumni Art Exhibit along with music, storytelling and poetry by students and faculty.
There were also ceramics demonstrations by visiting artist Lynn Munns and Utah Student University student-handcrafted pottery featured and made available for sale.
“When it comes to homecoming, people think of football games, the dance and the parade, and we try to add a different twist,” said Holly Daines, an organizer for the event.
On the studio stage in the Tippets Gallery, the Theatre Student Association performed opera-style storytelling while a piano accompanied their bold, clear voices. The room was filled with kids who watched the entertaining show.
About 45 USU alumni made their work available for an exhibit in the Tippets Gallery. One photograph depicted a man in a suit and tie with his arms stretched out, and many televisions behind him reinforcing the shape of his entire body. It was entitled “Reality TV” by Bountiful resident, Ron Brown.
Ben Toney, a sophomore majoring in biology, said he liked the photograph by Brian Atkinson from Rexburg, Idaho, entitled “Kolob Canyon.” The digital photo showed colorful mountains surrounded by fog.
He also liked a photograph by Donald S. Clark from Lake Park, Minnesota, called “I Thirst,” and said, “I want to know more about it.”
There were also many oil paintings on display including one depicting boats in a harbor entitled “Afternoon Reflections,” by Larry Winborg, a well-known local artist. A number of sculptures created by alumni artists were also on display.
The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art offered directors’ tours of the museum that highlighted works of art in their diverse collection. The museum also hosted faculty of the English department including Susan Nyikos, Christopher Cokinos, Anne Stark, Robb Kunz, Shanan Ballam and Anne Shifrer, who offered literary readings.
USU faculty members, Paul Crumbley, Patricia Gantt, Christine Hult, Phil Parisi, and Michael S. Sweeney were in the Kent Concert Hall lobby signing their recent publications.
Later in the evening, a concert was held in the Kent Concert Hall. The USU Wind Orchestra performed with the Utah State Alumni Concert Band.
Along with all of Friday’s events, the college had many events on Saturday. They had a wagon in the Homecoming Parade and offered tours of the Anthropology Museum and the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art throughout the day, along with many other activities.
The College of HASS held a family picnic on the Quad in the afternoon. Families could either bring their own picnic or purchase box lunches on site. HASS reserved a section at the football game against North Texas and offered tickets for that section at half-price.
It was a full weekend for HASS alumni. Although the events were organized especially for HASS Alumni and their families, anyone was welcome. HASS students, as well as students from many other colleges, enjoyed the sponsored activities.
Leah Ronnow, a junior majoring in environmental studies, said “I heard about it from a friend who is an artist.”
Holly Daines said they don’t know if they will do the art show again next year, but all those who enjoyed the day are hoping it will become an annual tradition. The event, if nothing else, showed another side of Homecoming celebrations.
-sdobson@cc.usu.edu