The artwork selected for the Memorial Union has been carefully curated by the 2022 spring semester Intro to Fine Arts Honors course students. They spent much of the semester researching artwork and artists that they felt represented the values of the student body and greater University population. Ideas of community, inclusion, and fun were incorporated into their curatorial activities. They identified themes for each floor of the union, considering the purposes of each space. These themes guided the intentional choices and written statements for each floor and its artwork.
Prints and drawings have been prepared with archival framing materials. Paintings have been framed where appropriate. We recognize that occasionally art is curated that may make viewers uncomfortable or may seem controversial. However, as the instructor for this course, I have emphasized to the students that there are many ways to view and interpret artwork and have encouraged them to present their thoughts professionally and with the spirit of inclusion in mind.
Sarah Heitkamp, Curator and Director of UND Art Collections
"The overall goal of our project, curating artwork for the newly constructed Memorial Union, is very simple. Our class was tasked with transforming this new and exciting building into a welcoming place that feels like home for our students: a place that will serve as the heart of campus for years to come. We had to take many factors into consideration, like the history of the artist, the intended meaning of a piece, how the art will be received by our student body as a whole, and how the art will fit in various spaces throughout the Union, all with different purposes and uses. For example, the lower level needs artwork that captures the energy of the space, which is used for recreation and games. Being the center of campus, this building is home to a lot of resources and services, and serves many different purposes; therefore, it calls for a very broad and diverse collection of artworks. Choosing pieces for the Memorial Union took a lot of thought and consideration and was definitely a group effort."
Austin Pierce, on behalf of the Spring 2022 FA150HON class.
Student Curatorial Teams: Lower Level, First Floor Faith Hoverson Tyler Gohmann Austin Pierce Greyson Gutzmer Hailey Thiessen
Second Floor Caroline Kelley Alivia Adams Rylee Bergeron Carter Schofield Brock Schultz
Third Floor McKenzie Tindall Luca Beretta Faith Hallem Hayden Thompson Sydney Crockett Kristian Herman
All text panels and curatorial statements were completed by the students.
