Each year, art installation students from MSU partner with The Grand to display unique pieces of installation art. Pieces in this year’s exhibit ask the question, “Can You See Me?”

For, the past several years, The Grand has partnered with Liz Miller’s Installation Art class to bring this art form to the 4 Pillars gallery.

“This partnership has been going on for a decade,” Millers said. “We’re super grateful to do this each year. It gives students a professional place to display their art.”

This year’s students were given a special prompt for creating their installation pieces. Miller asked each student to create a 3′ x 6′ “screen” that is reflective of themselves and has openings to allow viewers to look through the work. Several of the students attended the exhibit opening to discuss the meaning behind their pieces.

Hanna Rissman describes her untitled installation piece. The piece is intended to represent childhood innocence and how it fades. Her screen features playful soft materials to symbolize innocence and is combined with sharp, cold items like pins and paper clips.

Fourth-year art student, Tabitha Bergstrom’s piece “The Anger Within” used fishing lines, acrylic paint and hot glue to symbolize rage.

“In reflecting on myself, I found I had a lot of anger,” Bergstrom said. The piece represents the boiled-over blood moment. The fishing line had red hot glue applied to give the appearance of dripping blood. Bergstrom said the hardest part of creating the pieces was waiting for each part to dry.

Kyra Thor’s “Hair Trends” features a variety of yarn tied into a different braid style. Thor said the piece is a reflection of her childhood, which involved different hair braids. She decided to use a basic black and white yarn to emphasize the different textures and designs of the braids.

Hanna Rissman’s untitled pieces represented childhood innocence and its fading as people age. Her screen features playful soft materials to symbolize innocence and is combined with sharp, cold items like pins and paper clips.

Mallory Sylvester also took a childlike approach, by incorporating childhood craft items into her pieces. She said the piece helped her connect with her inner child. As a child, she was heavily involved in arts and crafts. The pieces are also reflective of her mother, who is a kindergarten teacher and taught children how to make many of the craft projects.

Fourth-year art student, Tabitha Bergstrom’s piece “The Anger Within” used fishing lines, acrylic paint and hot glue to symbolize rage. “In reflecting on myself, I found I had a lot of anger,” Bergstrom said. The piece represents the boiled-over blood moment.

Sadie Mortenson’s piece, “Corpse” featured hog bones hung on fishing line. Mortenson said she found the bones on her father’s hog farm. Her goal with the piece was to “take something forgotten and make it beautiful again.”

Alyssa Hadler’s piece titled “I Spy” was inspired by garage sales. Her screen features an assortment of small plastic objects typically seen in a free box.

Hadler said she was fascinated by items that were in the intermediate stage of value.

“These are the items that are not worth keeping, but also not worth throwing away,” she said.

“Can You See Me?” will remain on display at the Grand through Friday, April 26. The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday, from 10 am-4 pm and on Saturday from 11 am – 4 pm. This exhibit is free and all are welcome.

Kyra Thor stands next to her installation piece, “Hair Trends.” It features a variety of yarn tied into a different braid style. Thor said the piece is a reflection of her childhood, which involved different hair braids. She decided to use a basic black and white yarn to emphasize the different textures and designs of the braids.

Sadie Mortenson’ shows offer her installation piece, “Corpse.” The piece was created using hog bones she found on her father’s hog farm. Her goal with the piece was to “take something forgotten and make it beautiful again.”

Alyssa Hadler’s installation piece “I Spy” was inspired by garage sales. Her screen features an assortment of small plastic objects typically seen in a rummage sale free box. “These are the items that are not worth keeping, but also not worth throwing away,” she said.