“Saunter & Gather” artist bookshelves in Sharp’s third floor hallway. Photos by Jian Lee.
At the start of the Fall semester, one of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Research Studio I classes received a “Saunter & Gather” assignment from professor Evan Fusco. For this assignment, first year students were encouraged to seek things out, make sketches, jot down ideas, explore materials, create collages, and do anything else that felt important and exciting to bind into a small inspiration book. With the students’ books, the class held a small exhibition on the third floor of the Sharp Building, Oct. 1 through 8, allowing audiences to touch and interact with the books.
Research class students’ signatures on the “Saunter & Gather” exhibition label
In an interview, Fusco emphasized the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and embracing rabbit holes of research. He asked his students to shift the way they thought about gathering material and to start thinking differently about what art practices can look like. It was the students’ first Research Studio I assignment of the semester.
The exhibition of students’ work was held on the hallway of the Sharp third floor. Not every student’s end goal for their artwork is to take an exhibition format, but as a freshman, most students do not have the opportunity at all.
“Just having the exhibition – the whole experience, because I’ve never done that before —it was really awesome,” said Hallie Newman (BFA 2028). Newman’s inspiration book “Based on a Book” is inspired by every book she has ever seen in her life. She used flowers, fabric, candy wrappers, screenshots of lyrics, and pictures of books.
There were various inspiration books that showcased the student’s creativity. One book included a student’s own hair, another had pages ripped to resemble caterpillar bites, and another was written in a student’s native language. Each artist went through their own research process and had time to explore what they like and what interests them.
“Freshman year is the time to just let loose and try everything. Don’t let yourself get stuck. Take advantage of this year,” Fusco said.
“Saunter & Gather” artist bookshelves in Sharp’s third floor hallway
