Varied elements of identity come together in alum's art exhibit

Siegel's exhibit will be on display through April 16.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A Western Michigan University alumna is showcasing her work this month and next at her alma mater.

Suzanne B. Siegel earned a master's degree in fine arts with a focus on painting from WMU in 1988. Her work is on display through the end of April in the College of Health and Human Services second floor art gallery, where a reception is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26. The reception is free and open to the public with free parking available in Lot 104.

A 'perpetual seeker'

Siegel describes herself as a perpetual seeker, transcendental meditator, perennial philosophy devotee and interpretive realist. Her exhibit, "Back to the Garden," features these varied elements of her identity and reflects them in what she calls "a mélange of various kinds of art in markedly differing styles."

Siegel is particularly enthusiastic about what she offers in this exhibit. Through these and all of her works, her goal is to create well-crafted images that have a positive, transformative effect on the viewer.

"I feel I am perhaps at my zenith of capability and clarity of creative purpose," she notes. "This exhibit represents an unprecedented opportunity for me to show imagery seldom or never seen outside my own studio, in addition to my familiar urban landscape paintings."

Siegel was born in Grand Rapids and over her life has divided her time primarily between California and Kalamazoo. The master’s degree she earned at WMU came in addition to her store of academic and personal studies in areas such as anthropology, sociology, comparative religion and English literature. After 11 years in California, she returned to Kalamazoo in 2003 and has been steadily creating and showing her art in the area since then.

Exhibit hours

The WMU campus community and the general public are invited to view "Back to the Garden" from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, contact Gay Walker at gay.walker@wmich.edu or (269) 387- 3839.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.