Exit Gallery holds Fall pop-up exhibit

This semester's Exit Gallery pop-up exhibit is a well-seasoned showcase of creativity, perfectly plated to match the theme “You Are What You Eat.” Inside the white walls of the gallery, pieces on wooden canvases range from acrylic paintings to mixed-media 3D sculptures. 

The Exit Gallery is a student-run gallery overseen by the Associated Students of MSU’s Arts and Exhibits program. Each semester, it holds a pop-up exhibit where students from across campus are invited to submit a piece, according to Lara Freeburg, the exhibit director and junior graphic design major.  

Freeburg said the idea to create a student pop-up show came about during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The directors at the time, Emily Abel and Sarah Budeski, drew inspiration from a similar exhibit in Italy, where participants were given a wooden canvas and challenged to transform it into a unique work of art. 

“It's been a tradition ever since,” Freeburg said. “For this show, I didn't put any medium requirements. They're able to use the box how they want. If they want to turn it inside out, or if they want to use it as a podium for a little sculpture — I let students just do what they want.” 

According to Freeburg, this year's theme was chosen by Celia Hollenkamp, the assistant director for the gallery. 

“I think it’s cool to have the pop-up shows to reflect students’ individuality, instead of it being more like an assignment,” she said. “They can take it and find ways to express themselves.”  

Freeburg said the pop-up is an opportunity for all students to get involved with the Exit Gallery, even if they are not in the School of Art. 

“I know there's a lot of student artists out there who just aren't in the art school,” she said. “I like to think of the Exit Gallery as a bridge between the School of Art and the rest of the University.” 

Sophomore exercise science major Gannon Paschke said he was inspired by the theme and wanted to participate in the community project. His piece in the pop-up is a play on the painting “Dance” by French artist Henri Matisse. 

“‘Dance’ is a piece that attempts to sum up the human experience,” he said. “The vegetables are participating in the human experience just as the humans were in the original.”

Paschke said that while working on a small canvas was challenging, exploring creativity and innovation is central to his art process. 

“My art style is a little all over the place as I don’t feel like I’ve fully developed it yet. I am drawn to small, meaningful works that aren’t necessarily perfect. However, I also like technical pieces that showcase my skill,” he said. 

“The difference depends on how I am feeling and my medium. I did a lot of ceramics in high school and liked to make perfect forms that showcased my skill,” he said. “However, with other mediums, the process of ‘messy making’ is more fun for me than a perfect finished product.”

While the Exit Gallery is not accepting any more submissions for the Fall pop-up, the exhibit itself will be available for viewing until Oct. 30. There will be a reception on Oct. 27, where community members are invited to enjoy the art and meet the artists. 

“It's a cool opportunity for students to just be engaged in art,” Freeburg said. “I think this is a great avenue for people who are not sure how to display their art or how to get involved in the gallery scene.” 

To learn more about the Exit Gallery, visit its Instagram @exitgallery.