"Experience Blue" Celebration is Friday Night at the Chase Fine Arts Center

Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts presents “Experience Blue” Jan. 23, a capstone celebration of Arts Week. Activities take place from 7-9 p.m. in the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s Logan campus. The evening features everything from art exhibit openings to a masquerade ball.

“The entire Department of Art and Design has been involved in planning the culminating Arts Week event, ‘Experience Blue,’” said Laura Gelfand, head of the Department of Art and Design in the CCA. “Blue, USU’s color, is the theme that will tie all aspects of the evening together. The halls will be blue and there will be art installations and interactive activities to engage the entire family throughout the Chase Fine Arts Center building. I really hope to see members of the community of all ages come to check out this evening and fun event.”

Opening exhibits include “Blue,” a faculty show from the Department of Art and Design, shown in the Tippetts Exhibition Hall, “Reflex Blue” in Gallery 102 and “Crafting a Continuum: Rethinking Contemporary Craft” in the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art.

The campaign to transform the Chase Fine Arts Center and Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art will be announced, along with a presentation of the CCA Outstanding Seniors for 2015. In addition, the Chase Fine Arts Center will feature art installations throughout the facility.

Throughout the night, guests can enjoy food from The Waffle Iron and the World’s Best Corn Dog food trucks parked in the CCA Courtyard. The unveiling of the “Fire & Ice” ice sculpture also takes place in the courtyard, with a special installation from the USU sculpture students.

“Art students will also be hosting the third annual Masquerade Ball in the Kent Concert Hall on Friday,” said Sam Wright, student arts senator. “It’s become a student tradition we are looking to continue.”

The ball is free and open to the public. Masks will be sold for $1 at the door.

Here is a summary of Arts Week’s culminating events and activities:

Jan. 23, “Paint My World Blue: A Children’s Exhibition,” 5 p.m., Chase Fine Arts Center ramp. The exhibit includes art from local middle and elementary school students. The exhibition’s aim is to reach out to children and get them involved with the arts.
“Blue,” Tippetts Exhibit Hall, Chase Fine Arts Center, an exhibit opening featuring blue-themed art from USU faculty.
“Reflex Blue,” Gallery 102, Chase Fine Arts Center, an opening for a juried exhibition with work by graduate and undergraduate students, all with the theme of blue.
The art installations throughout the Chase Fine Arts Center include a video installation, “September 10, 2001,” and displays of “Tiny House Piñatas” and “Design Star” lights. Andrea Polli’s artwork will be on display in the Caine Performance Hall, “Synthesia!,” another video installation, will play in the MT Room and “Blueprint” can be seen in the Printmaking Studio.
There is an opening reception for “Crafting a Continuum: Rethinking Contemporary Craft” from 7-9 p.m. at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. The exhibit features artists working in a wide range of media and processes to help viewers think beyond the boundaries of what is known as traditional art and what is known as craft.
Capping the evening is the “Masquerade Ball” that begins at 9 p.m. at the Kent Concert Hall in the Chase Fine Arts Center. The third annual ball is DJed by Colton Packard and admission is free. Masks will be available to purchase for $1.