TAMIU Artist Talk Launches Campus’ ‘Rhizome’ Installation
An opportunity to learn about a historic large-scale art installation taking place this semester at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) was the focus of a special Artist Talk on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in TAMIU’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) Theater.
Crystal Wagner, the artist and creator of the project known as “Rhizome” shared her artistic vision for the project, which provides opportunities for the campus and community at large to be engaged in its creation. The Artist Talk served to launch the initiative.
“This was very much an introduction to my art practice, my professional experiences, and who I am as an artist. I wanted to provide context for what is about to happen here at TAMIU. It is about generating excitement. I shared my inspiration and ideas for my large-scale works and my art practice,” Wagner said.
Several opportunities will be offered for public participation, including Open Build Days, and printmaking workshops. Open Build Days are scheduled to occur every Friday beginning Jan. 26 and continuing through March 15, 2024, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Participants will meet at the CFPA main lobby.
Printmaking workshops are scheduled on Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25, from 1 - 5 p.m. in the CFPA Printmaking Studio, room 220 A. Find out more about "Rhizome" here.
Wagner is currently a Visiting Professor of Art at TAMIU. She is a contemporary interdisciplinary artist represented by Mirus Gallery in Los Angeles/San Francisco, Ryan Joseph Gallery in Denver, CO, Kirk Gallery in Denmark, the David Block Gallery in Marrakesh, Morocco, and Fort Works Art in Fort Worth, TX.
Her interest in combining two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms and massive site-specific installations has led to her artwork being exhibited extensively around the world. Notable commissions include works for NIKE, Bombay Sapphire, TOYOTA, The Flaming Lips, The United States Embassy, Warner Brothers, and two installations for Viacom, one of which is a 117- ft. piece at their Times Square, New York City headquarters. It was featured by The New York Times and broadcast on national television on VH1’s Top 20 Countdown.
The Artist Talk served as a kick-off for the project and a catalyst for community participation. The final installation will be presented in a full performance targeted for mid-April 2024.
“I’m hoping that by sharing my practice throughout this initiative we can generate interest for participation from TAMIU students, faculty, and members of the local community. The talk also provided TAMIU classes working on projects centered around Rhizome an opportunity to hear the full scope and concept of the project which includes workshops and installation building. We’d love to have students and artists from throughout the community join us. It’s an exciting and collaborative project that includes tactile, visual, performance and soundscape elements that will combine to create an immersive, encompassing experience on a scale never seen before here,” she observed.
Wagner received her MFA from the University of Tennessee in 2008, her BFA from the Atlanta College of Art in 2004, and her AFA from Keystone College in 2002. In 2013 she was awarded the highly coveted Pollock-Krasner Grant.
To view other large-scale installations by Wagner visit: https://crystalwagner.com/installations/
For more information on the TAMIU Rhizome Project, contact Wagner at rhizome@tamiu.edu or call 956.326.3044.
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