Most college students do not have the money to be art collectors, but one local artist is trying to get younger people involved in the art world using affordable pieces.
Alex Harvie, University alumnus, will hold an art show at Reginelli’s on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The show will feature pieces of art priced at $50, and Reginelli’s will sell certain bottles of wine for $10.
Harvie said he hopes to get younger people involved in the Baton Rouge art scene by holding the show.
“I really want to kind of help get the student base and young adults involved in the art world and collecting original works and stuff like that,” Harvie said. “The more people that know about art and are involved in the Baton Rouge arts scene, the better it’s going to be.”
Harvie said the pieces at the show will feature a new style that he refers to as “mush.”
“Mush is my lifestyle right now,” Harvie said. “Mush is about deconstructing the grid. The grid, which was a representation of my life a few months ago, has been dissolving.”
Harvie said the changes in his life have allowed him to see things differently, and his artistic output has increased.
“I don’t really know what’s around the next corner,” Harvie said. “You never know what life’s got for you. What this has done is created this huge creativity for me. It’s been amazing.”
Pierre Gamble, University alumnus and art promoter in charge of the event, said he chose Reginelli’s to get more students involved in the show.
“Reginelli’s is within walking distance, and it’s a popular area,” Gamble said. “I figured that it would be a good place to start.”
Gamble said getting students involved in the art scene is something he and Harvie are interested in.
“I talked to Alex about the idea of doing a show that would be … for anybody, of any socioeconomic class,” Gamble said. “We came up with this idea to have this show, which is basically a student show.”
Harvie said the average student can’t afford to be an art collector at the normal art show prices, so he painted smaller pieces to sell at student-friendly prices.
“Students can’t afford a $1,000 painting,” Harvie said. “That’s why I’m doing these small ones.”
Gamble said this show will give any student interested in art the opportunity to join the art world.
Summer Swanson, psychology senior, agreed with Harvie and Gamble and thinks it is important for students to get involved in the art world.
“I think it’s definitely important for younger people to get involved in art because people should be cultured,” Swanson said. “If you don’t start at a young age then you never know what could be lurking inside.”
—-Contact Sarah Aycock at [email protected]