October is National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM)—a coast-to-coast collective recognition of the importance of culture in America. NAHM was launched by Americans for the Arts 30 years ago as National Arts Week in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts. It was later reestablished by Americans for the Arts and national arts partners as a month-long celebration, with goals to create a national, state, and local focus on the arts and humanities through the media, encourage the participation of individuals, as well as arts, humanities, and other organizations nationwide, provide an opportunity for federal, state, and local businesses, and government and civic leaders to declare their support for the arts and humanities, and, establish a highly visible vehicle for raising public awareness about the arts and humanities.
National Arts & Humanities Month was initiated to encourage Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives, and to begin a lifelong habit of participation in the arts and humanities. It has become the nation's largest collective annual celebration of the arts.
In recognition of NAHM, the Art Gallery at Western New England University will host “WNE’s Staff, Faculty & Alums Create!” an exhibit of work by University staff, faculty, and alumni artists, from September 30 to November 1. The gallery, located in the St. Germain Campus Center, will host a gallery talk on Thursday, October 18 at 4:00 p.m. where the artists will offer insight into their work, followed by an artist reception from 5:00-6:30 p.m. All gallery events are free and open to the public.
Featured artists include:
Staff & Faculty
- Loris Epps, Assistant Director, Career Development
- Christina Fairman, Adjunct Lecturer, Visual Arts, College of Arts & Sciences
- Laura Hansen, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, College of Arts & Sciences
- Louise Ingram, Staff Assistant, Counseling Services
- Patricia Jenks, Gallery Curator, Student Activities & Leadership Development
- Heather Salazar, Associate Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences
- Kerry St. Laurent, Senior Lecturer, Visual Arts, College of Arts & Sciences
- Joseph Ray, Adjunct Professor, Visual Arts, College of Arts & Sciences
- Donna Utter, Faculty Secretary, College of Arts & Sciences & Alum, 1991
- Claire Wright, Program Coordinator, Student Activities & Leadership Development
Alumni
- Hatter Caim Meraki, '82
- Beverly Hanson, Alum spouse '61
- Ronnie Kryzak, '10
- Lucy Peltier, '82
- Lori Sheehan, '90
- Eunice Smith, '92
For information and directions to the gallery visit http://www1.wne.edu/student-activities/st-germain-campus-center.cfm or call the University at 413-782-1203.
