Bachelor of fine arts in art teaching student Courtney Buss is helping create social change through art in a collaboration with Sydney Porter Williams, a community-based teaching artist and professor of art and art education at the University of Utah.
Porter Williams collaborated with Buss and other undergraduate students to co-create a socially engaged, interactive exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts in their Art. Community. Museum. Education. (ACME) Lab gallery space. Buss received a Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program award to perform and present arts-based research on the project with Porter Williams.
Their exhibition, titled “Interwoven: Social Transformation Through Art and Community,” aims to deepen understanding of shared humanity by showcasing diverse identities and experiences. “Interwoven” is an immersive piece of artwork featuring original poems, artworks, and audio recordings. The piece addresses societal discrepancies while celebrating individual and collective identities. The artwork is on display at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art until June, 2025, and is a unique and inventive medium that serves an impactful purpose on cultural transformation.
Both Buss and Porter Williams are recognized for their commitment to using art as a tool for social change and increasing accessibility to more inclusive art experiences. They have created a platform for community participation and engagement through art, setting a standard in community art practices. Their innovative approach to sharing art with the community fosters connection and creativity, encouraging museum visitors to actively be involved in the artistic process.
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