Kim Roberts, a visiting professor of Communications, opens an art exhibit Monday that helps viewers to both give and receive. Her unique show is at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art in downtown Grand Rapids until April 21.
Roberts works as a video installation artist, combining sculpture and video images in one piece. The piece featured in exhibit is titled Returning to the Source and will show three female forms representing the image of the Three Graces.
The Three Graces were meant to represent the three phases of generosity--Giving, Receiving, and Returning Thanks, Roberts explains. So in addition to my sculpture/video, I will be placing gifts in the space which have been made by residents of Heartside Ministries and Fountain View Retirement Village. They have been making greeting cards to give away.
Roberts says visitors to her show can take a gift, which will contain a couple of hand-made greeting cards. Inside each card will be an addressed postcard where exhibit visitors can send a thank-you to the person who made the cards. Then, Roberts explains, people will eventually send these cards to their friends and complete the circle by giving a gift.
So, by participating in that portion of the exhibition, they will be completing the three phases of generosity as depicted by the Three Graces, she says.
Roberts was awarded a grant from the Michigan Campus Compact for $2,500 to do these gift-making workshops.
