The Nordstrand Visual Arts Gallery in Conn Library is hosting a free art show, “Residual Stripes,” by Sioux City, Iowa artist Shannon Sargent from now until Sept. 30.  

This art show is free for everyone and open to college students and the community. The gallery is currently open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. Sunday.  

Sargent is the visiting artist for this month’s event.  

“For many years, I have used multicolored stripes and recycled materials in my work,” Sargent said for the Wayne State College press release. 

“For this installation, I used materials from Longfellow Elementary School gathered while I was using space in the school as my studio,” Sargent said. “The work has special significance because I attended Longfellow as a child. My studio was, in fact, my old kindergarten classroom. The title, “Residual Stripes,” looks back at where I came from and how some of that is still there and some of it is gone.”  

Sargent hopes with this exhibit to wrap the viewer with bright and colorful items and to overall make them feel happiness.  

Sargent is the collections/exhibitions coordinator at Sioux City Art Center. There, he maintains the permanent collection and installs exhibits. He also teaches for Morningside College and maintains their gallery as gallery coordinator.  

Sargent has a bachelor’s in art from Morningside College and a master’s in Painting from the University of South Dakota. His art is featured throughout the area and is a part of collections in many different states.  

Andy Haslit is the gallery director for WSC and, with the help of gallery assistants through his class, organizes the Nordstrand Visual Arts Gallery.  

“I try to look for artists who will bring in some sort of variety whether it’s a variety of techniques, the themes they work with, the materials they work with,” Haslit said. “I looked for a variety of artists like artists that are professors, artists that are full time independent artists.” 

By bringing in this variety of artists and techniques, Haslit wants students to see art that is new to them, that they might not have encountered within the art department.  

The Nordstrand Visual Arts Gallery hosts diverse types of shows throughout the year.  

“The next show is going to be the faculty and alumni show where it’s going to be works by the art faculty but then also Wayne State College alumni and then the last show of the semester is going to be the senior exhibit,” Haslit said.  

Be on the lookout in the future for upcoming shows within the Nordstrand Visual Arts Gallery.