A Star Space: A Socially Engaged Art Project

My first attempt at socially engaged art; a final for one of my Art History classes in the Spring 2019 Semester. I did research on how socially engaged art is a way to serve a community and resolve issues, providing a better future for them. I drew inspiration from mental health in the student community at UMass Dartmouth. I also struggle with mental health and anxiety, and one practice I do is use a star projector in my room and play music, and it helps me step away from any stressors and recharge. I thought this practice would also be useful for others, so I collaborated with 2018-2019 Artist-in-Residence Lauren Moran to expand upon this practice for other students. We invited other students to join us and we brainstormed together and created art to transform the Secret Nut Gallery in the campus' freshman dorms. After covering the walls with paper and fabric murals it we added furnishings, blankets, string lights, ambient music and a star projector to replicate my practice. The final result was a room anyone can come into if they need to zone out from the stressors of reality. I had submitted this project to the UMass Dartmouth 2019 Art and Civic Engagement Award in which I had received an honorable mention.