Artistic expression meets community engagement at the Emeritus Art Show

Welcoming Arizona State University emeritus professors and artists from diverse academic and artistic disciplines as well as local community artists, ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions hosted its annual Emeritus Art Show on February 25, 2019—a successful reminder of the partnership between Watts College and the Emeritus College.

This year the Action Advocacy and Arts program (AAA) had the pleasure to introduce the newest member of the emeritus art community, Edmund Stump, a retired professor of geology. His delicate, nature-inspired mobiles made a distinct impression on event attendees. Current emeritus art members John Aguilar, Marie Provine, Mark Reader and James Pile also joined the exhibit to celebrate this wonderful event and showcase their work.

After the initial reception, Watts College Dean Jonathan Koppell and Emeritus College Dean William Verdini spoke about the positive impact of the partnership between the colleges and the AAA program. The show then continued with a night full of artistic expression, delicious food and great conversations.

With future shows and ideas being reviewed, the partnership between colleges will continue to blossom into a positive collaboration of artistic expression and community engagement.

A year-round exhibition of this partnership is on display in the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus,
housed on the 4th-9th floors of the University Center building and in Nursing North and South buildings. It is a vibrant installation of over 280 works of art by retired ASU faculty members, both professional and avocational artists. Works include acrylics, pastels, etchings, ink washes, oils, woodcuts, watercolors, sculpture and intricate handset type. Their art transforms these buildings into a center of culture, creativity and innovation.