WATERVILLE, April 2016 — Thomas College student artists and Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter artists will hold an Expressive Arts Exhibition and Reception on April 25th from 4 to 5 p.m. and April 26 from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. at the Grand Central Café, 10 Railroad Square in Waterville.
This event is free and open to the public. Grand Central Café will provide complimentary beverages, pizza and sweets for attendants.
Attendants will be able to view a variety of artists’ works and hear the artists introduce themselves and their art pieces.
The exhibition is a result of Thomas College professor Dr. Maryam Mermey’s Exploring the Expressive Arts class. As part of the class students focus on a service through the arts project. Mermey and her students gave a workshop for the guests of the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, who will also be in attendance at the event.
“The arts should be for everyone,” she said.
Mermey’s class is based on an original, arts-based transformative learning model, which provides deeper learning to college students in addressing the relevant challenge of social justice. The model refers to the meaningful integration of a diversity of art forms such as the visual, performing, literary, and film arts.
“The arts-based transformative learning model culminates in the Thomas College and Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter Expressive Arts Exhibit and Reception to help illuminate the talents of college students and homeless shelter guests as a way to celebrate our common humanity,” she said.
Jessica Holz ’18 is a Thomas College Education student who took Mermey’s class and participated in the workshop.
“It was a very uplifting experience for me- one that reaffirmed my belief in the buoying, healing and unifying power of art,” said Holz. “I am so thankful for the opportunity of participating.”
The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend.