{"id":83155,"date":"2024-11-04T14:50:56","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T20:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=83155"},"modified":"2024-11-04T14:53:12","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T20:53:12","slug":"artist-brings-unity-and-compassion-to-fort-hays-state-through-collaborative-installation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=83155","title":{"rendered":"Artist brings unity and compassion to Fort Hays State through collaborative installation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By RORY MOORE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fort Hays State University\u2019s Ceramica and Clay Club, Moss-Thorns Gallery, and School of Visual and Performing Arts featured Steve Hilton as a visiting artist to collaborate with students and faculty on a community installation project displayed at the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art. Hilton, an established artist and professor at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, came to work on the project from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"407\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83144\" data-id=\"83144\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-001.jpg?resize=790%2C407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-001.jpg?resize=1024%2C527 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-001.jpg?resize=370%2C191 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-001.jpg?resize=150%2C77 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-001.jpg?resize=768%2C396 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-001.jpg?w=1524 1524w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Students working on the Collaborative Community Art Installation project discuss what polarizes the world and how people can come together.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"519\" height=\"790\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83154\" data-id=\"83154\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-002.jpg?resize=519%2C790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-002.jpg?w=519 519w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-002.jpg?resize=171%2C260 171w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-002.jpg?resize=99%2C150 99w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 519px) 100vw, 519px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Alyssa Ellis writes an issue that pertains to the topic of greed.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"352\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83153\" data-id=\"83153\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-003.jpg?resize=790%2C352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-003.jpg?resize=1024%2C456 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-003.jpg?resize=370%2C165 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-003.jpg?resize=150%2C67 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-003.jpg?resize=768%2C342 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-003.jpg?resize=1536%2C684 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-003.jpg?w=1766 1766w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Ideas of how to solve matters of polarization are displayed on the walls of the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"527\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83152\" data-id=\"83152\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-004.jpg?resize=790%2C527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-004.jpg?resize=1024%2C683 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-004.jpg?resize=370%2C247 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-004.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-004.jpg?resize=768%2C512 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-004.jpg?w=1183 1183w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Students wrote what matters most to them on a personal level.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"439\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83151\" data-id=\"83151\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-005.jpg?resize=790%2C439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-005.jpg?resize=1024%2C569 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-005.jpg?resize=370%2C205 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-005.jpg?resize=150%2C83 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-005.jpg?resize=768%2C426 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-005.jpg?w=1412 1412w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Spheres that feature words written by students lay on the floor while connected by smaller marbles as part of the theme of unifying and polarization.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"475\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83150\" data-id=\"83150\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-006.jpg?resize=790%2C475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-006.jpg?resize=1024%2C616 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-006.jpg?resize=370%2C223 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-006.jpg?resize=150%2C90 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-006.jpg?resize=768%2C462 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-006.jpg?w=1313 1313w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The Installation conceptualized by Steve Hilton is observed by students and faculty.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"501\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83147\" data-id=\"83147\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-007.jpg?resize=790%2C501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-007.jpg?resize=1024%2C649 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-007.jpg?resize=370%2C234 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-007.jpg?resize=150%2C95 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-007.jpg?resize=768%2C487 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-007.jpg?w=1253 1253w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Students&#8217; ideas and perspectives on world issues are a featured element of the artwork.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"739\" height=\"783\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83146\" data-id=\"83146\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-008.jpg?resize=739%2C783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-008.jpg?w=739 739w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-008.jpg?resize=245%2C260 245w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-008.jpg?resize=142%2C150 142w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Hilton chats with a student about art.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"555\" height=\"784\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-83145\" data-id=\"83145\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-009.jpg?resize=555%2C784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-009.jpg?w=555 555w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-009.jpg?resize=184%2C260 184w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-009.jpg?resize=106%2C150 106w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 555px) 100vw, 555px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Steve Hilton, artist and professor at Midwestern State University, came to Fort Hays to collaborate with students and faculty on the project through a workshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Hilton served as the facilitator for the project entitled \u201cFHSU Issues and Solutions\u201d and was one of 300 artists who put the installation together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI do installations all over the world but mostly in the United States,\u201d he said. \u201cI was asked to come, and I packed a bunch of clay, took a bunch of students, go to the site, and we make the artwork. It\u2019s usually about the community, and in this case, it\u2019s about the polarization of our society and how we can avoid that polarization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He aims to teach students how to resolve divisions through making art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy goal is to use art to start the conservation about what polarizes us and get students to think about what we can do as we build a community,\u201d Hilton said. \u201cI want to teach them to not use such vitriol when we talk to people that are different that us and think different than us. Teaching people about polarization through art is important, but the only way people are going to get this is if they think through it themselves. So, my goal is to give people the opportunity to be mindful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The installation consists of small black marbles connected with spheres that contain unifying ideas from students.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThose spheres represent the words that polarize us and the possibilities of how we can be better,\u201d Hilton said. \u201cThe black marbles connect the spheres in a way that I\u2019m hopeful people can see that if we can educate people, we can make them less hateful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hilton\u2019s vision was conceptualized through students\u2019 ideas about political matters who wrote their ideas on a paper displayed on the gallery\u2019s walls.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gallery Director and Interior Design Instructor Colin Schmidtberger was instrumental in the work\u2019s process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI helped Steve understand how he would get here and what he all needed,\u201d he said. \u201cI helped install the paper on the walls as well as the marbles and the spheres on the floor. My job was to guide the conversation with Steve and help them set it up in a way that portrays what he\u2019s trying to capture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students materialized their ideas about unity by writing their thoughts on paper to tie into the installation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe words displayed on the wall influence how the floor is laid out and how they connect,\u201d Schmidberger said. \u201cThe marbles connect different spheres that have the words on them, and those represent how everything is connected and how we as human beings can work together to have a better understanding of everyone and make a better world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Schmidtberger believes the project allows students to find comfort in expressing their views.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think this serves students in a sense of getting them to open up more,\u201d he said. \u201cThis conversation was instigated to get them to understand that you have different views, but you can still be connected. You can still understand or accept someone\u2019s different view. It doesn\u2019t mean you have to be against them as a human being; you can still be friends and still have that relationship, and I think this helped them understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Freshman fine arts major Ashton Dawley contributed to the installation by discussing ideas with other students and writing words displayed on the spheres.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOn one wall, we have what bad things are in our world,\u201d he said. \u201cOn the opposite wall, we have what could possibly solve those things. I\u2019ve witnessed a lot of controversial topics, but I\u2019ve also witnessed common ground topics in that it changes different perspectives of people\u2019s thinking within an hour of class. So, I\u2019m excited to see what this installation looks like because there\u2019s so many words on all these walls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dawley enjoyed working and discussing art with Hilton throughout the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s fun talking to him,\u2019 he said. \u201cHis mind challenges you and makes you think about what\u2019s polarizing our world. When you talk to him in general, you start to think about challenging topics within the world, within art, and within yourself. It\u2019s crazy what he can make your mind think in a short time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The installation will be displayed in the Moss-Thorns Gallery for the remainder of the month and is open to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think it will turn out amazing,\u201d Dawley said. \u201cA lot of people don\u2019t think about what polarizes our world because it\u2019s a constant thing, and I think looking at something physical compared to what\u2019s every day is going to stop us in our tracks and make us think more about it. That\u2019s important because nobody likes to talk about it. Nobody is willing to make a change, and this installation is an attempt to make a change.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By RORY MOORE Tiger Media Network Fort Hays State University\u2019s Ceramica and Clay Club, Moss-Thorns Gallery, and School of Visual and Performing Arts featured Steve&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":83150,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,3397,3398,11],"tags":[12851,15982,14428,15700,15981],"class_list":["post-83155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-area-news","category-campus-news","category-news","tag-colin-schmidtberger","tag-collaborative-art","tag-fhsu-art-and-design","tag-rory-moore","tag-steve-hilton"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Installation-006.jpg?fit=1313%2C790","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=83155"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83158,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83155\/revisions\/83158"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/83150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=83155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=83155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=83155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}