Oct. 21, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – An exhibit of art and writing inspired by the natural world features pieces from two Grand Rapids Community College students.
“Pictures and Words from the Creative Fellowship at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute for Environmental Education” runs through Nov. 10 at GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery.
The exhibitors are all recipients of the Gordon Art Fellowship or Nature in Words Fellowship. They spent a month this summer at the institute, a nature and environmental education center in Hastings, working with mentors.
“Fellowships are important to writers and artists because it gives them an extended period to work on their craft,” said Visual Arts assistant professor Matthew Schenk, who was a mentor to student Julian Arpin-Cortez. “It is an invaluable experience for any student.”
English professor Maryann Lesert, who worked with student Valerie Salerno, noted that while GRCC students have been awarded the fellowships in previous years, this summer was the first that the institute created a creative cohort of art and writing students who lived on site.
“Both Matt and I and PCCI were really happy with the collaboration between art and writing students – and research students, too,” Lesert said.
Salerno, who is majoring in writing and literature, enjoyed working with Lesert and the other cohort members.
“A memorable moment from the fellowship was looking up at the stars with the other fellows, watching the shooting ones and contemplating alien life,” she said. “We also heard an Eastern screech or barred owl – I can’t remember which one – and it somewhat terrified us!”
Arpin-Cortez is a returning GRCC student – having received an associate degree here several years ago and a bachelor’s degree. He’s pursuing an art career and is exploring diverse media and disciplines.
He counts hiking through wetlands and participating in a controlled burn among his memorable fellowship experiences but most enjoyed getting to know the other students in the cohort.
“On our final night at PCCI, a group of us sat outside and stargazed,” Arpin-Cortez said. “We sighted several meteors and listened to the sounds of nocturnal animals in the surrounding woods. It was a lovely and memorable conclusion to our four weeks together.”
The exhibit also includes work from students at the Kendall College of Art and Design, Aquinas College and Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Calvin universities.
The Paul Collins Art Gallery is open 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and is located on the fourth floor of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall, 143 Bostwick Ave. NE.
To apply for the 2023 Pierce Cedar Creek Institute fellowships, go to https://cedarcreekinstitute.org/