The University of Denver campus hosts a wide variety of topics for its students to focus on. From business finance lectures to biochemistry labs, students are exposed to many opportunities for learning in a liberal arts environment.
Even with the academic diversity on campus, students do not take advantage of areas outside their personal interest zones. The Shwayder Art Building is quite frequently overlooked, even though it is on the way to the dorms and the Richie Center.
Those artists who applied to DU through the art school have a deep understanding about the intense, competitive nature of the art department. Too frequently stigmatized as being a slacker area of study, art does not often receive the appreciation it deserves.
The creative minds of the world need to be better highlighted in society. Museums and galleries around the globe spend extreme amounts of time and money in an effort to educate non-artistic people about the importance of artistic representation and exploration in society.
In Denver, art has begun to reach a level of visual acceptance from the city. Sculptures and installations in the community as well as various galleries have shown a support for art in Denver.
Students on the DU campus may not know that they have the opportunity to access amazing presentations of artwork without having to leave campus. There are two galleries on campus: the Victoria H. Myhren Gallery, and the 023 Gallery.
The Victoria H. Myhren Gallery on the first floor of the Shwayder Art Building has between three and five exhibitions per year. These shows exhibit a wide variety of work ranging from famous visiting artists, to the annual Bachelors of Fine Arts senior show during spring quarter.
These showings demonstrate the artists’ talent, and they are deserving of your support. It is understandable that not everyone can relate to an artist’s point of views, as creativity is a gift not every person possesses. This, however, should not affect the support given to the art community on campus or in society.
Expression from those who do hold the talent to artistically dazzle the public should be more widely accepted and appreciated not only across college campuses but also around the world.
Unfortunately, the importance of artistic creativity and imagination has been downplayed across the country. Elementary, middle and high schools around America have dropped their art classes in order to give more money to different areas of study.
It is obvious that certain members of society do not believe that art is a critical element for humanity-they are much mistaken. Exposure and involvement in art exhibits, classes, literature and videos make citizens more well-rounded and more cultured.
While many people can walk into a restaurant or hotel without so much as glancing at the art hanging on the walls, others spend hours creating and analyzing the pieces.
My question is this: why not notice the beauty surrounding us in the community? People need to take the time to recognize what their fellow citizens are spending such valuable time, effort and funding on.
There is no harm in appreciating the arts. All forms of art from visual art to performing art are well deserving of time taken by the general public to value their expression. My suggestion to you is this: take a moment out of your busy day, walk down the path to the Shwayder Art Building on Asbury Ave. and take a peek inside the main gallery. You might like what you see.
