The University of Michigan-Flint annual Art and Design student exhibition held its opening reception on May 9th at the Greater Flint Arts Council in Downtown Flint. During this reception, attendees had the chance to walk around and admire the vast array of works created by UM-Flint students. Student artist Catie Cunningham, a Flint native, expressed her gratitude for the arts being recognized.
“Seeing the arts thrive in this community means a lot to me, especially after hearing all of the misconceptions of Flint while growing up. It never felt possible to come to Flint and see beautiful works, so I am so grateful,” Catie said.
There was also an award ceremony during the reception, where several students were recognized for their outstanding artistic abilities. The awards included Dean’s Choice, in which Interim Dean Chris Douglas selected a piece to put on display. The honor went to Karli Nixon for her piece “Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain”, and Dean Douglas explained why he selected that piece.
“I chose this piece because of the artist’s skill and attention to detail. The intricate lines and use of the black and white medium make for a compelling piece,” he said.
Catie Cunningham received several awards during the ceremony, including Chancellor’s Choice and Outstanding Work. Cunningham said that it felt amazing to receive that recognition, and it allowed her to realize all of her hard work had paid off.
“You work so hard and it is so easy to get disconnected from it, so to be pulled back to reality and have people tell you that you’re good and your art speaks to them means the world to me,” she said.
The exhibit ran through June 6th at the Greater Flint Arts Council building on Saginaw Street in Downtown Flint.
