02 Sep BSU ‘Cardinal Virtues’: Sept. 2-24
The Arts of Ball State Alumni
As a student, it can be easy to let go of a creative habit if you aren’t involved in a class or working toward a degree, but there are plenty of college graduates — perhaps particularly Ball State University alumni — who have kept up their artistic practice.
Creative BSU grads will fill our Judge Stone House gallery with artwork in a range of media during the Cardinal Virtues exhibit Sept. 2-24. The show is part of Noblesville Creates’ year-long Bicentennial focus and will recognize how BSU graduates and leaders influence our community.
Why focus on just one school? “We are trying to build connections within the larger community,” says Aili McGill, director of Noblesville Creates. “One way to do that is to bring together members of a smaller community. And it’s fun that we have so many BSU grads here!”
John Dierdorf of Fishers is one such a graduate, finishing at BSU in 1974. The architect will include photos of building projects he has completed in his submission to the show.
“The architectural history classes at BSU exposed us to many differing styles of buildings as well as corresponding art. Using art to enhance spaces for people is a key component in architectural design,” Dierdorf says. “Color, dimensional art and sculpture all work to humanize buildings and create the desired atmosphere.”
Darren Peterson earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from BSU in 1991. In addition to designing buildings and dabbling in woodworking, jewelry making and drawing, he is a licensed Wilton Method Cake Decorating instructor and has graduated 350 students. He and his daughter Emily’s cake decorating hobby can be found at collegefundcupcakes.com.
“I had literally no exposure to art in high school and Ball State opened up that experience and started the long journey of art appreciation and trying to keep that present at all times and bring it to every part of life,” Peterson says, adding that most of his classmates were pursuing artist endeavors during school, so it will be exciting to see how they have all continued.
The exhibit is open to the public during regular business hours; free admission. Most works will be for sale to the public.
