Meet the Artist: Alyssa Imes
Meet the Artist: Alyssa Imes
Meet Alyssa Imes at the unveiling of her public sculpture, Chill Bloom. This work was selected through an open call in Spring 2023 organized by undergraduate students enrolled in Abigail McEwen’s Public Art course. The class invited submissions that addressed the concerns and challenges facing college students today, seeking works that inspired play and joy. This initiative is supported by Arts for All, the Department of Art History & Archaeology, and the Dedalus Foundation.
Chill Bloom: College can be stressful at times, and in those times I wished that I had a place to be safe and sheltered. Chill Bloom references UMD school colors. It is hammock-like in nature, which gives the viewer a safe place to lie, sit, or rest. Referencing the shape of a blooming tulip, it reflects early spring and the eagerness of tulips to be among the first flowers to bloom. Just like tulips, college students are eager and ready for a fresh start at their studies and college experience. Chill Bloom is my way of giving students and staff a safe and relaxing place to recharge.
Join us at the corner of Campus Drive and Preinkert for the unveiling. In event of rain, the artist talk will take place in the Collaboratory (4213A Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Building).
This event is part of NextNOW Fest, a week-long celebration of creativity across the campus that is part of Arts for All and organized by The Clarice.
Artist Bio
Alyssa Imes grew up in Emmitsburg, Maryland and currently lives near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree (BFA) from Shepherd University in 2018, during which time she created works with communal cast iron and knitted fibres. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Maryland with an MFA, producing a body of work that reflected the ideas of growth after trauma. A polar opposite to her gallery work, her public works are fun, colourful, and vibrant. Most of the works in this series reference floral and growth elements. Across her art practices, the main element of inspiration remains the connections she makes with people and the interactions that follow.
Meet Alyssa Imes at the unveiling of her public sculpture, Chill Bloom. This work was selected through an open call in Spring 2023 organized by undergraduate students enrolled in Abigail McEwen’s Public Art course. The class invited submissions that addressed the concerns and challenges facing college students today, seeking works that inspired play and joy. This initiative is supported by Arts for All, the Department of Art History & Archaeology, and the Dedalus Foundation.
Chill Bloom: College can be stressful at times, and in those times I wished that I had a place to be safe and sheltered. Chill Bloom references UMD school colors. It is hammock-like in nature, which gives the viewer a safe place to lie, sit, or rest. Referencing the shape of a blooming tulip, it reflects early spring and the eagerness of tulips to be among the first flowers to bloom. Just like tulips, college students are eager and ready for a fresh start at their studies and college experience. Chill Bloom is my way of giving students and staff a safe and relaxing place to recharge.
Join us at the corner of Campus Drive and Preinkert for the unveiling. In event of rain, the artist talk will take place in the Collaboratory (4213A Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Building).
This event is part of NextNOW Fest, a week-long celebration of creativity across the campus that is part of Arts for All and organized by The Clarice.
Artist Bio
Alyssa Imes grew up in Emmitsburg, Maryland and currently lives near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree (BFA) from Shepherd University in 2018, during which time she created works with communal cast iron and knitted fibres. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Maryland with an MFA, producing a body of work that reflected the ideas of growth after trauma. A polar opposite to her gallery work, her public works are fun, colourful, and vibrant. Most of the works in this series reference floral and growth elements. Across her art practices, the main element of inspiration remains the connections she makes with people and the interactions that follow.