I'm a big fan of the idea that anyone can be an artist, and of organizations that support that idea - PostSecret, Build-A-Bear, you name it. So naturally, I was excited about going to the D.I.Y.: Design It Yourself exhibit at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
The exhibit, which began Feb. 18 and since then has had a book party, various workshops and a family day, exists to promote a book of the same title. The book, a do-it-yourself guide to everyday art, preaches, "Design is art that people use." In accordance, it motivates readers to branch out of the conventional and make something.
Ellen Lupton, director of MICA's graphic design master of fine arts program, whose design studio class last year created the book, said, "My students' book is one small contribution to a much bigger movement," and you can take her literally.
The exhibition is held in the tiny Pinkard Gallery in the Bunting Center of MICA. It is comprised of a simple yet busy hallway divided into six sections, including one where a copy of the book is torn apart for use as wallpaper.
In another section, there are hundreds of varying stickers ranging from ones with motivational messages such as "push it to the limit" to ones with pictures of private parts.
And in another, taped business cards that aren't so business-like litter the wall. In the middle of the gallery is furniture in which every inch of every sofa and table is plastered with sharpie notes left by visitors.
No doubt it's aesthetically pleasing.
But I couldn't help but be a little let down. It could be because there wasn't a single soul there besides the occasional student who would pass by to get to another building. Or maybe because the entire exhibit was just slightly larger than my living room at Hopkins House. Or it could just be that it wasn't a happening time to go.
It could be all of those things. But what stands out is that though the exhibit attempts to be a live testament to the age-old rejection of corporate branding, viewer interaction is minimal.
Sure, 17 graduate students made the book. And yes, a lot of the things at the exhibit are more down-to-earth than what you would see at, say, the Baltimore Museum of Art.
But in the process of promoting the book, the exhibit loses the essential touch with non-artists. It has stickers to stick onto walls, lays out sharpies to write on the furniture and encourages people to put their business cards on with the rest, but the dead quiet and professionalism of the rest of the show dampens any thought of adding your own work.
It doesn't help that getting into the place is an event on its own. I had to wait for a student to come and open the doors to Bunting Center with his access key for some time.
So, in all, the exhibit can do a better job representing what the book promotes - rebellion against corporate America through public involvement. But as separate entities, the exhibit is nice and the book has some worthy messages.
"One could say that for graphic design, the barbarians have always been at the gate. We are the barbarians, the bastard children of the fine arts. We are the publicists and popularizers, the people of the street. You don't need a license or a set of initials after your name to become a graphic designer."
The D.I.Y. exhibit is at Pinkard Gallery in Bunting Center and will continue through March 12. The exhibit is free for all. Visit the web site at http://www.designityourself.com or http://www.mica.com or call (410) 225-2300 for more information.
