Student-made art piece to be featured at 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Symposium
CMU students build interactive art piece for the fourth annual Diversity and Inclusion Symposium. (Courtesy Photo)
The fourth annual Diversity and Inclusion Symposium will bring in keynote speaker, artist, designer and urban planner Candy Chang to speak about inclusive engagement from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 9 in the Bovee University Center Rotunda.
Chang is known for her creative works of art that transform public spaces to spark conversation and foster engagement.
Hosted by the Office of Diversity Education, the event will be broken into three conversational sessions focused on topics relating to the keynote presentation. Students will have the opportunity to work together and answer questions about public space in the context of diversity.
The event will feature a student-made art piece called “My Dream is to…” which was inspired by Chang’s piece, “Before I Die…”
The art piece was created by Central Michigan University students Auburn graduate student Lauren Grotkowski, Port Huron senior Mateo Savedra and Port Huron senior Cass Holdburg. The students crafted a large wooden board for students to write on and share their dreams and aspirations with the rest of campus.
Chang’s “Before I Die…” project was inspired by an old, dilapidated building in her neighborhood in New Orleans. Every day on her way to work, she would pass the building and wonder what could be done with it. She decided that she wanted to give new purpose to something that had become an eyesore. Since that first wall in New Orleans, the project has been duplicated over 2,000 times in over 70 countries.
“Chang’s projects bring together diverse thoughts from individuals who interact daily in a public space,” Grotkowski said. “We are hoping that the project will serve a similar purpose by providing a safe, positive board for individuals across campus to share their thoughts.”
The board will be on display in front of the Bovee University Center for the week prior to the symposium. It will be on the sidewalk and students can write on it using chalk that will be provided nearby.
“I hope it brings the campus closer in realizing that everyone on this campus comes here for a reason,” Holdburg said.” “A driving force – a desire to attain something special to themselves. We are all so different and because of those differences we have many amazing opportunities to learn from each other.”
