College of Western Idaho (CWI) will welcome an impressive panel of local artists, educators, and leaders to campus this month for a conversation on the social and economic impacts of public art. CWI will host “Art in Public Places: The Power of Art to Unite Communities” on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 6-8 p.m. at the College’s Micron Center for Professional Technical Education in Nampa. The event is free and open to the public. 

The panel will include:

• Kathleen Keys, moderator (Department Chair, Department of Art at Boise State University)
• Karen Brown (Art History Faculty, CWI)
• Karen Bubb (Boise City Art and History Department)
• Alma Gomez (Artist)
• Antonia Wynn (Nampa Art Collective)
• Colby Ackers (Artist and Founder of Boise’s Freak Alley)
• Mark Baltes (Artist)

The Micron Center is home to CWI’s first public art display; a mural titled “Spirit of Collaboration” commissioned by Alma Gomez [2]. The artwork was created with input from CWI students and faculty, and partially funded by the Idaho Humanities Council. CWI is developing its public art program with a goal of strengthening connections with the community and providing valuable learning experiences for students.

Immediately following the panel discussion, there will be a reception with a question and answer session and an opportunity for extended conversation. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information contact Brenda Fisher at brendafisher@cwi.edu [3] or Karen Brown at karenbrown@cwi.edu [4].