Students to show artwork during Art.Downtown.

More than 35 students, many of whom are in the Visual Studies program at Grand Valley, will showcase their artwork during the annual Art.Downtown. event Saturday, April 9.

Art.Downtown., sponsored by Avenue for the Arts, takes place from noon-9 p.m. in dozens of galleries, businesses and studio spaces around downtown Grand Rapids.

Paul Wittenbraker, professor of Visual Studies and 2D Foundations, said Art.Downtown. gives students the opportunity to put their classroom studies in creating new contexts for experience art into practice.

"The Visual Studies curriculum focuses on engaging real-world situations in which students learn about all aspects of producing and presenting visual art projects," said Wittenbraker. "Art.Downtown. makes possible many varied situations in which artists can create their own curated projects or be curated into projects that are created by others."

Below is a list of students participating in Art.Downtown.

"ARE YOU CALM NOW"
Location: Urban Institute of Contemporary Art (2 Fulton St. West)
Artists: Ashley Rosa Acton, Kenzie Cargill, Bridget Falenski, Morgan Hayden, Gibsyn Martin, TJ Mathieu, Kay Emmer, Sabrina Slenk, Annie Teall, Molly Lucille, Ryleigh Wilson, Amelia Cleveland, Lisa Castro and Micah Martin, with Anna Campbell, associate professor of Visual Studies and sculpture

"Feminine Articulation"
Location: 122 Division Ave. South
Artists: Kenzie Cargill and Molly Lucille (curators), Morgan Hayden, Annie Teall, Katie Quinn Pershon, Molly LaBeff

"Objects Jump Sideways"
Location: SiTE:LAB (333 Rumsey St. SW)
Artists: Ian Thompson, Megan Galvin, Ashley Rosa Acton and Ben Spratt

"YOU ARE HERE"
Location: 120 South Division
Artists: Jessica Chapman, Bridget Droelle, Emma Dufort, Caroline Elsner, Kayleigh Gauthier, Hallie Hofman, Lynn Hunsanger, Hailey LaBar, Ellie Lubbers, Michael Pierce, Taylor Scholtens, Tyler Smith and Sarah Stanners, with Nayda Collazo-Llorens, Padnos Distinguished Artist-in-Residence

Visual Studies is a studio program in the Art and Design Department that focuses on contemporary art practices. The six courses are designed to emphasize real-world skills in digital imaging, curating, exhibition and projection organization and management, and video and sound production.