Celebrating 100 Years of Creativity: The CCS Student Exhibition
DETROIT (WXYZ) — The College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit is gearing up for its 100th annual Student Exhibition Opening. This prestigious event showcases an impressive collection of over 3,000 pieces, covering various creative disciplines including transportation design, illustration, and fashion.
Watch the video report below:
The College for Creative Studies holding 100th student exhibition
Set to open this Friday evening, the exhibition offers a unique platform for CCS students to highlight their diverse talents and even sell their artwork. Graduating senior and illustrator, Luke Farewell, expresses his enthusiasm: “I’m just really excited. It’s been a lot of work. It’s been like four years of really hard work and late nights.”
This year, Farewell is excited to showcase his vibrant paintings, marking his first time with a dedicated wall for his creations. “I like to paint what I love. So I paint people, musicians, and authors, and my friends,” he shared.
CCS President Donald Tuski emphasizes the historical significance of the event: “It’s really been historically a really important night for our students. We’ve had students make $4,000 or $5,000, depending on what they sell, and some students really do well.”
One of the most exciting aspects of this exhibition is that 100% of the proceeds from sales go directly to the students. This initiative supports their artistic journeys and underscores the value of creativity in education.
The exhibition also pays tribute to CCS alumni, showcasing successful products they have contributed to in their professional careers. Brands such as Puma, Owala, and Trek display works designed by CCS graduates, reinforcing the impact the school has had on the creative industry.
“Probably many of your viewers, if not all of your viewers, have come in contact with the work of a CCS alumni or a student. Whether it’s a car, a product, a piece of clothing, a pair of shoes, something in a movie or a game design, those are all the things that we teach our kids to do,” Tuski noted.
Web extra: Illustration Chair Don Kilpatrick talks about the Student Exhibition Opening
Web extra: Illustration Chair Don Kilpatrick talks about the Student Exhibition Opening
Among the talented students exhibiting their work is graduating senior Zahraa Al-Tweej, who studied product design at CCS. Her exhibit features concepts, ideas, and a product she designed for a local business. “I actually just finished an internship with a local start-up company here called Mark it Fresh in Detroit. We designed a tote bag for her company, a modular tote bag that has insulation and very organized compartments,” Al-Tweej explained.
Web extra: Zahraa Al-Tweej walks us through her exhibit
Web extra: Zahraa Al-Tweej walks us through her exhibit at the Student Exhibition Opening
Al-Tweej is eager to share her artistry with the community: “Not only is it about designing beautiful things, but it’s also about changing experiences and storytelling. It’s about your daily routines — that’s what art is to me, and what product design is to me.”
The eagerly anticipated exhibition opens on Friday at 6 p.m. at The A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education and the Walter and Josephine Ford Campus. The venues are easily accessible via campus shuttle service. Tickets are required for the opening night event.
The exhibition will remain free and open to the public from Saturday until May 30. For detailed ticket information and event hours, be sure to visit the CCS website.
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