Patchwork: Reclaiming Space Exhibit

Patchwork: Reclaiming Space is a participatory exhibit at the MSU Union Art Gallery that invites the public to create, reflect, and contribute artwork to the growing collaborative display. It features a patchwork tapestry of squares made by Spartans and brought together by Spartan Upcycle, the student-centered creative reuse branch of the MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center (SSRC). 

Patches made in the gallery over the next month will later be added to the tapestry on display, and work on a second shared tapestry will also begin. Spartan Upcycle initiated the communal tapestry project last year in honor of the day of remembrance for the Feb. 13, 2023, tragedy that stole the lives of three students, injured others, and affected countless more. 

The project began at a table in the Union during an upcycle pop-up, hosted with MSU Eco Reps, where students stopped by and made patches from materials sourced through SSRC's daily operations. The contributions collected from students that day became the foundation of the tapestry featured in Reclaiming Space. The exhibit is an opportunity to commemorate the contributors and their artwork, and to invite the community to create patches that carry the project forward. 

This is the second year for the Reclaiming Space exhibit, which was initiated last year by the Union Art Gallery and the Department of Art, Art History, and Design in an effort to provide a space grounded in care and reflection in response to the day of remembrance. Through Feb. 14, visitors are encouraged to find a seat in the gallery and make a patch or select a book for collaging and add their artwork to the gallery walls. By the conclusion of the exhibition, the space will hold a vibrant collection of stories woven together, forming a collective portrait of our community.