Concrete steps on Fayetteville Mall lead down to easy music and a quiet murmur. People slowly make their way around the room, stopping to stare every few feet.
The cause of their pauses — works of art. These people are in the Fish Market, a gallery for the College of Design.
The Fish Market is open as a part of First Friday — an event held downtown on the first Friday of every month.
According to Marie Fornaro, a junior in art and design, art and design students run the Fish Market.
Phoebe Wang, a senior in art and design, said the directors — she and Miles Holst — accept every work of art the students submit.
“We don’t run like other galleries,” she said. “We don’t censor.”
If more material is submitted than the amount of space in the gallery, Wang said they would make room for pieces wherever possible because they do not want to be exclusive.
Wang said she enjoys seeing work on display — whether her own or someone else’s. And according to Fornaro, so do the people in the community.
Displaying art at the Fish Market is also a good way to network for possible jobs, Emily Morrison, a junior in art and design, said.
But Christine Bauschamp, a junior in industrial design, said the atmosphere is more professional than students are used to.
Whether they are used to the atmosphere, students like Fornaro want others to see their artwork. Fornaro said the first time she had her work on display was the first time she could say she was an artist.
“It was a pivotal moment,” she said.
Students who go to see their peers’ work at the Fish Market have the opportunity to attend the other galleries participating in First Friday when they go downtown, according to Wang.
“[It is a] good way of getting students exposed, not just to their peers’ work but other local artists,” Wang said.
It’s a night of appreciation for Morrison. She said she enjoys spending a Friday night supporting peers.
And according to Morrison, it’s always worthwhile to go the Fish Market to appreciate art because the gallery changes frequently enough to stay interesting.
But Morrison isn’t the only student to gain something from Fish Market. Bauschamp said seeing what other students are doing motivates her.
Going to the Fish Market is a chance to listen to music, see peers’ works and become inspired, according to Holst.
“It’s always a really nice evening,” he said.
To set the mood, Holst said the directors play music throughout the evening, which is generally recorded. The directors go through their playlists and select “music that’s passive,” according to Holst. But once in a while, the gallery will host live, acoustic musicians, but Holst said it is usually a surprise. The musicians have always been friends with one of the directors, Holst said.
With the artwork and music comes food.
Wang said they ask students who submit work to volunteer in some way, and one of those ways is help provide refreshments, including homemade foods.
So, for good food, music and the best of students’ work, First Friday and the Fish Market should be on everyone’s calendar, according to Holst.
