Over the next two months, many alumni will return to Kingston to celebrate milestone reunions with their classes and programs. This activity culminates at Homecoming 2024, an annual tradition planned for Oct. 18 to Oct. 20 this year.
This September, alumni artists from across the country and around the world will return to campus for a unique program reunion.
Angela Walsh Noble, Artsci’02, Ed’03, recalls her time at Queen’s as a special and formative experience. Now she wants to celebrate the Fine Art program that has been so influential in her life.
Early in the planning stage, Walsh Noble and the other members of the organizing committee realized 2024 marked the program's 55th anniversary. They decided a weekend celebrating the program and the many achievements of creative professionals will highlight the significance of the program and offer an opportunity to support current students and recent alumni.
“It's not just about us staying in touch, but it's also about welcoming the graduates coming out of the Fine Art program into our fold and saying, ‘Hey, there's a whole community of us beyond Ontario Hall that are here for you and support you,’” says Walsh Noble.
The result is a reunion weekend packed with unique activities, such as an alumni artists’ talk and an exhibition of select prints from the Queen’s Printmaking Archives in Ontario Hall.
The highlight of the weekend is a reception on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Union Gallery for Home Again, an exhibition of visual artwork by alumni of the Bachelor of Fine Art and Bachelor of Art Education programs.
“This is the first time, to my knowledge, that the Fine Art department at Queen’s has celebrated our program and celebrated what we've done since graduating,” notes Walsh Noble. “That's kind of cool. And I know my work has changed since I was there. It'll be exciting to see how others' work also evolved and changed.”
The exhibit includes pieces from more than 75 alumni and was supported by the Queen’s University Alumni Association’s (QUAA) special project grant. The grant was used to offset shipping costs, so alumni artists from around the world could participate in the show.
For Katharine Harvey, Artsci’86, a conceptual painter and multi-media artist, the chance to participate in the show is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of art in the digital age.
“Artists are visionaries who shape our world,” says Harvey. “Through our imagination and intuition, we create thought-provoking works never seen before. Artists are cultural workers, playing a vital role in reflecting and influencing our society. Handmade art with its unique human touch will become even more valuable in our digital age.”
Harvey also believes exhibitions like Home Again are an opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their works but believes it's crucial to provide more opportunities for female artists.
While the reception on Sept. 14 is just for Fine Art alumni and guests, Home Again: Queen’s Fine Art Alumni runs from Sept. 3 to Sept. 14 at the Union Gallery and is open to the public.
