Academics and Research / Arts and Culture / Magazine Feature

Students display artwork at Denver International Airport

Sarah Soriano's work is based on the memory of her childhood home. It is part of the "No Place Like Home" exhibit now on display at DIA. Photo: Wayne Armstrong

Sarah Soriano spent much of her youth in airports traveling back and forth between her parents’ homes in Indiana and Arizona. She used those memories as inspiration for her portion of the “No Place Like Home” exhibit at Denver International Airport (DIA).

Soriano, along with four other Electronic Media Arts Design (eMAD) graduate students, have their work on display at DIA through February. The exhibit, located on level six of Terminal East, explores memories of transition, migration, journey, comfort, farewells and returns.

“My childhood experiences with my parents has influenced my work for DIA,” says Soriano, a second-year graduate student. “The space I created is trying to recreate memories of my childhood that have begun to fade with time.”

The artwork of students David Fodel, Brigid McAuliffe, Allie Pohl and Soriano varies widely. While Soriano’s work feels like the memory of her childhood home, Pohl’s colorful work stacks socks six feet high in the form of a tree.

“This high-profile opportunity is exciting on multiple levels,” says Laleh Mehran, assistant professor of the eMAD program. “It has provided valuable insight into DIA’s exhibition art submission process and has given these Masters of Fine Arts students a new direction in thinking about professional practice and the desire for involvement with large and diverse audiences.”

Soriano chose DU’s eMAD program because it allows students to pursue their own interests.

“Other programs I looked into were very specific in their methodology and research paths,” she says. “DU works with each student individually in order for us to follow what we are really passionate about, which creates a wonderful diversity between the graduate students.”

“No Place Like Home” is located outside of the airport’s secure areas and is open to the public.

“Ultimately the creation of works for DIA will set the stage for communication with a diverse public and provide a prominent bridge from DU to the community,” Mehran says.

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