Art has a distinct, unifying power. The “Art By All” exhibition strives to build these bridges, connecting the community through the vibrancy of expression.
All Fairfield University undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff are welcome to submit one piece in any 2D or 3D format, regardless of skill level. The deadline for submissions is today.
Senior Emma Dobrovich serves as curator, partnering with the Department of Visual & Performing Arts, the Arts Institute of the College of Arts & Sciences and the DiMenna-Nyselius Library to display a diverse collection of artwork in the library’s lower level from Feb. 10 to March 31. An opening reception will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Dobrovich, who attended last year’s event, was invited to organize this year’s exhibition by Dr. Marice Rose, Director of Art History and Visual Culture, and Lisa Thornell, Head of Library Outreach and Communications.
She envisions the exhibition as a vessel to foster inclusivity, promoting social engagement and sparking interdisciplinary dialogue. These guiding ideas shape her approach to this project, as well as her exploration of art at the collegiate level.
“Rather than viewing art as isolated masterpieces, I began to see it as a visual record of cultural values, inequalities and historical moments,” she illustrates. “This shift in perspective, understanding art as something embedded in and responsive to its broader community, was really important to me.”
The call-for-submissions flyer lists a wide range of accepted media, from painting and sculpture to woodwork. An added note reads, “If you consider it ‘art,’ we do too.” The sentiment captures something rare about the exhibition: artists are not merely permitted to push the boundaries of their creativity, but encouraged to do so.
“‘Art By All’ creates a space where every voice in the community, students, faculty, and staff can participate in defining what counts as art,” Dobrovich explains. “For students, it offers a chance to expand their understanding of artistic practice beyond the ‘standard’, inviting them to engage with everyday creativity and to see art as a lived act rather than something only found in museums or galleries.”
The typical barriers to entry evaporate, welcoming artists at any skill level to present their work to the public in a formal setting. To Dobrovich, all art possesses cultural and intellectual value.
“Creative expression does not need institutional validation to matter. By making space for student contributions alongside those of faculty and staff, inclusivity reframes art as a shared, community-based practice,” Dobrovich states.
From moving photographs to recreations of beloved Pokémon characters, she has found joy in sifting through submissions and assembling the exhibition as an “honest visual record” of the rich humanity of each individual who represents a thread in the fabric of the institution.
“I think learning why these submissions are important to their creators has deepened my understanding of the community itself,” Dobrovich reflects. “It has really reinforced the idea that art is not only about skill or technique, but at its heart, about meaning, vulnerability, and intention. I think experiencing that level of openness has been incredibly heartwarming and has affirmed the importance of creating spaces where people feel invited to share what they value.”
For more information about “Art By All” and to fill out the submission form, please visit https://fairfield.libwizard.com/f/artbyall26. Questions may be directed to [email protected].
