MassArt alumni and friends gathered in the Berkshires for an inspiring weekend of art, connection, and discussions on creativity.
Steve Locke BFA '97, MFA '01, MassMOCA curator Evan Garza, and alumni.
The Berkshires in Western, MA, are known for world-class cultural attractions, and MassArt alumni and friends gathered there recently for an unforgettable weekend of connection. Hosted by MassArt President Mary K. Grant and MassArt Alumni Relations, the itinerary featured innovative art and special programming centered around the solo exhibitions by artists Abelardo Morell (MassArt Professor Emeritus) at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA, and Steve Locke BFA ’97, MFA ’01 (former MassArt professor) at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA.
“What a wonderful event! I got to meet other alumni who literally work down the street from me and have applied their creative frameworks to so many different types of careers, from exhibit preparation to art library leadership,” said Cecilia Hirsch (MFA ’95). “Hearing from President Grant and Abe Morell was so special — each shared such heart-warming appreciation and dedication to MassArt’s wide-reaching mission. I walked away, on this snowy January night, feeling such warmth and excitement about the future of MassArt and the generosity and talent it nurtures, from its students to its faculty.”
Morell and Anne Leonard (Manton Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Clark Art Institute) treated the group to a guided walkthrough of Morell’s exhibition In the Company of Monet and Constable, where viewers are invited to see the world in new ways through the incorporation of camera obscura.
Locke and Evan Garza (MassMOCA curator) inspired a thought-provoking discussion on racial violence in our country and the role of art in fostering reflection, dialogue, and a search for justice, sparked by Locke’s latest exhibition, the fire next time. The crowd was a wonderful mix of the MassArt community, including 40 students and some faculty, who joined the conversation.
“Our alumni are a shining example of the value and excellence of a MassArt education,” shared Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the MassArt Foundation Emily Foster Day. “It is always an honor to gather with this community to learn about and celebrate how our alumni are changing the world.”
The MassArt alumni community is a network of more than 20,000 alumni worldwide. For more information on our MassArt alumni gatherings, visit https://massart.edu/alumni.
Architect Michael Plofker reflects on historic preservation in New York City, Plaza Hotel restoration, and Lincoln Center/66th Street subway station underground gallery.
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MassArt alumna Tracy Silva Barbosa on her journey from New Bedford to becoming a glass artist.
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Yin Peet (MFA ’91), artist and executive director of the YV Museum in Acton, Mass., talks about the vision and history of the museum with Harvard Press.
“Peet came to the United States from Taiwan in 1982 with a passion to pursue art and having “dreamed the American Dream.” She studied art of the Western world in New York and spent from 1984 to ’88 in Nepal learning about South Asian art. Many of her works represent a blending of Eastern and Western religions and philosophies. ”
Read more in The Harvard Press.
The Provincetown Independent featured alum Larry Collins, whose work is on view at the Alden Gallery in Provincetown.
MassArt alum Sara Campbell is the founder and designer behind the nationally recognized women’s fashion brand Sara Campbell Ltd., known for its timeless style, quality craftsmanship, and made-in-the-USA production. After earning her MFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Sara built a career rooted in artistry and entrepreneurship—transforming her love of fine fabrics and design into a thriving retail business with 20 boutiques across the East Coast and Midwest. Her creative journey, from sewing dresses as a child to leading a beloved fashion label, reflects the dedication and design sensibility fostered through her MassArt education.
Alum Steve Locke’s solo show at Mass MoCA reviewed by Murray Whyte for the Boston Globe
MassArt Alumnus, Steve Locke, MFA ‘01, joined GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen to discuss his career and the role that art plays in our every day lives, which includes his his recent installation for Massachusetts College of Art and Design’s 150th anniversary.
In Locke’s latest work, bright pink neon lights up part of the MassArt building’s facade, emphasizing the word “NORMAL” emblazoned on the wall. Locke’s goal, as he says, was to highlight the school’s history as a place of furthering public education: “I wanted to highlight the fact that MassArt is a teacher’s school. It’s a school that trains teachers, and it’s a public school, and I wanted to affirm the value of public education.”
In the interview, speaking:
Jared Bowen: “Have we lost our way that the arts are normal?
Steve Locke: “People think the arts are outside of themselves…and I say to people all the time, everything in your life was designed by a creative person, an artist or designer. The coffee cup you drink out of, the shirt you wear, all the apps on your phone, the interior of your car, the Benjamin Moore color of the year, all that stuff comes through the arts. People think it’s somehow separate or different from their lives, but it’s not.”
