Space/S will be on exhibition concurrently across two different galleries on the Valley campus. You may visit the exhibition at the: 

Performing Arts Center Gallery & Stuart B. and Barbara H. Padnos Student Gallery.

Nafeesah Symonette, M.A., is an award-winning visual arts educator, consultant, and arts advocate with more than 30 years of experience advancing arts education, cultural equity, and creative opportunities for young people. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA), Vice Chair and Arts Education Chair of the Michigan Arts & Cultural Council, she is a leading voice in arts education policy, cross-sector collaboration, and systems change, spearheading initiatives such as the Detroit Partnership for Arts Education (DPAE) and championing research that positions youth arts as essential civic infrastructure. Inspired by her own artistic journey beginning at age eight, Symonette leverages research, strategic partnerships, community engagement, and public advocacy to advance equitable access to transformative arts experiences for young people in the city of Detroit and across the state of Michigan.

Thursday, January 28, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Grand River Room 2250, Kirkhoff Center, Grand Valley State University

The Space/S Symposium  invites audiences to gain insight into the creative practices, ideas, and processes of Visual and Media Arts (VMA) faculty. Through artist presentations and conversation, faculty will share perspectives on their work, discuss the concepts and approaches that inform their creative practice, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the ideas, experimentation, and exploration that bring their work to life.

Friday, January 29, 10:00 - 4:00 PM
Grand River Room 2250, Kirkhoff Center, Grand Valley State University

Space/s and the Space/s Symposium feature artwork and research from over 40 artists- all current Department of Visual and Media Arts faculty and staff.

Dulcee Boehm
Ellery Bryan
AK Bueno
J.C. Christy
Brett Colley
Samantha Conrad
Ryan Copping
Sigrid Danielson
Navid Darvishzadeh
Alicia Delacruz

Scott Dickson
Gabrielle Egnater
Julie Goldstein
Marianne Hoffmeister
Bill Hosterman
Jee Hwang
Megan Klco Kellner
Hoon Lee
Vinicius Rebello Lima
Natalie Lowe

Lindsey Peterson
Amanda Pitts
Kristen Reeves
John Schmit
Anal Shah
Megan Smit
Stafford Smith
Max Spitzer
Kirsten Strom 
Durwin Talon

Anthony Thompson
Guin Thompson
Zachary Trebellas
Norwood Viviano
Shalom Yabilsu
Alex Zablocki
Katalin Zaszlavk
Renee Zettle-Sterling
Wenxin Zhao