Night of the Open Door to Highlight Local Art, Interactive Learning

The ASU Downtown Phoenix campus is opening its doors to the public Friday, February 3, inviting people to see all the exciting research and work that is taking place in downtown Phoenix.

The College of Public Service and Community Solutions welcomes community members, alumni and families of all kinds – as many of them as we can fit without alarming the fire marshal (get it, “alarming”). Learn about ground-breaking research projects and hands-on activities at the College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Hop across Taylor Mall for a tour of the Cronkite School’s bustling state-of-the-art newsrooms. And check out the cool health-related research going on at the College of Nursing and Health Solutions, including a nutrition kitchen. Heard about the new law school building on the Downtown Campus? You can walk through this innovative education space.

ASU Night of the Open Door at Downtown Phoenix runs from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, February 3. It’s totally free and features lots of giveaways, but please RSVP. Those who register are entered into a drawing for a special Night of the Open Door gift bag. A full list of activities and parking information is here.

The College of Public Service is offering the following activities:

• Art Exhibit: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” pres. by Action, Advocacy & Arts
• Interactive Problem Solving: The Responsible Traveler pres. by Center for Sustainable Tourism
• Prizes and Info: Unleash the power of lifelong learning! pres. by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
• Prizes and Info: Phi Alpha Honor Society pres. by School of Social Work
• Interactive Trivia: Getting to know your Arizona Government - A Jeopardy Game pres. by Pastor Center for Politics and Public Service
• Prizes and Info: Solutions for Arizona Communities pres. by College of Public Service
• Alumni Q&A: Be a Part of the Solution pres. by College of Public Service
• Prizes and Info: ASU Public Service Academy pres. by College of Public Service
• Augmented Reality Photo Booth: Collaboratory at Westward Ho pres. by College of Public Service
• Prizes and Info: School of Criminology 10th Anniversary Displays pres. by School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Chief among the things to do Friday night is visit a new art exhibit at our College. “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” is the latest exhibit from Action, Advocacy, Arts, a program that uses the arts as a central vehicle to build relationships between the community and ASU students, faculty and staff. Under the leadership of Carrie Tovar, curator of art, and thanks to the constantly amazing imagination of the Phoenix artist community, the first three floors of the University Center building are full of vibrant works.  

In her call for works from local artists, Tovar described the theme this way:

“The visual arts very often provide a manner for artists to dream, to imagine, and to record. We can look at our past journeys and accomplishments and imagine those to come as each of us sets off into the world. We love to envision where we are going, to wonder and wander, and to record where we have been. These could be small journeys or major ones, or even stories from the realms of our imaginations. …This exhibit hopes to celebrate those journeys taken and those that are still to come. We invite you to share your stories, your dreams, your journeys through paintings, photographs, drawings, and works of mixed media.”

The theme is an appropriate one for the college, as it offers a degree in tourism development and management from the School of Community Resources and Development. The school is also home to the Center for Sustainable Tourism, whose faculty will be on hand for Night of the Open Door to discuss their important work.