Alyssa Imes Creates a Human Loom at the University of Maryland
Alyssa Imes with "Chill Bloom" outside Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Building on occasion of NextNow Fest 2023, September 12th
(David Andrews)
Alyssa Imes' public sculpture, Chill Bloom, is a work that 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.
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, colorful, 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.
