The Indiana University Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design invites the IUB community, Bloomington residents, and prospective students and their families to Open Studios 2024. Taking place Friday, September 27 from 5 to 9 p.m., the annual event is an introduction to the school’s 15 programs in art, architecture, design, and merchandising. Throughout the school’s three studio buildings, visitors will find displays of student artwork, can explore state-of-the-art studio and fabrication facilities, and may try their hand at make-and-take art activities.
Visitors may take the self-guided tour at their own pace, on the following schedule:
- 5-7 PM: Experience comprehensive design, merchandising, interior design, architecture, fashion designin Kirkwood Hall (130 S. Woodlawn Ave.).
- 6-8 PM: Experience ceramics, digital art, creative core, graphic design, metalsmithing + jewelry design, photography, and fibers in the Fine Arts Building (1201 E. 7th).
- 7-9 PM: Experience ceramics, fibers, painting, printmaking, and sculpture in the Studio Art Annex (802 E. 13th).
Depending on direction their adventure takes, guests may find themselves experimenting with Surrealist drawing techniques, creating a mood board to decorate an imaginary room, making their own letterpress posters, dyeing a bandana, giving the pottery wheel a spin, or trying to navigate an obstacle course in a wheelchair while wearing vision-impairment goggles. Over the evening, participants can accumulate punches in an Open Studios passport for a reward.
Exhibitions by internationally renowned artists will be on view at the Grunwald Gallery of Art during the event. Also in the Fine Arts Building, the student-run Tangent Gallery will invite guests to view its current student exhibition and to create and install their own artwork. Open Studios also offers the first glimpse of the school’s brand new ArtShop, a source for art supplies, unique gifts, student work for sale, and light snacks, on the first floor of the Fine Arts Building just off the Showalter Plaza. Veterans of the Super Bowl XLVI half-time show, IU-based a cappella ensemble Ladies First will roam among the three venues to provide live musical accompaniment.
Open Studios offers a dive into the culture and landscape of the Eskenazi School on IU’s flagship campus. Faculty and students from the school’s 15 areas will be on hand throughout the night to share information with prospective students, whether high school seniors or current IUB students considering an Eskenazi School major or minor.
This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Light snacks will be provided at each of the three buildings, and a food truck will offer food for purchase in front of the Fine Arts Building. Free parking is available in the East Garage on Eagleson Avenue after 5 p.m. Each studio building is fully accessible, but motorized transportation among the facilities on the tour is not provided.
For more information please contact
Yaël Ksander
Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
(812) 855-5512
yksander@indiana.edu