Center for Art & Social Engagement
Center for Art & Social Engagement
Center for Art & Social Engagement
Formerly known as the Westby Art Gallery, the Center for Art & Social Engagement is a research-based initiative from the Rowan University Art Gallery. An outgrowth of the Sister Chapel, the historic feminist art installation currently on display in Westby Hall room 110, the Center serves as a venue for investigating social issues through arts-based methods, while drawing inspiration from the cooperative spirit of the women’s art movement.
Meet the Director
Mary Salvante is a visual arts professional with over 30 years of experience as a curator and arts administrator. The focus of her practice is contemporary art program development and planning of interdisciplinary curatorial projects, public art installation programs, and artist in residence programs.
As Gallery Director at Rowan University Art Gallery, Mary transitioned it into one with regional impact through the curation of innovative contemporary art exhibitions and public programming with noted artists: Dread Scott, Mel Chin, Beverly Semmes, Joyce Kozloff, Brandon Ballengee, Julie Heffernan, Ebony Patterson, Federico Solmi, Jamea Richmond Edwards, Saya Woolfalk, Jeanne Silverthorne and others. She is the founder of the Center for Art and Social Engagement at Rowan where the permanent art collection is presented side by side with innovative community engagement projects that focus on social issues and advocacy. Read more...
Rowan University’s latest public art project, “Time Sweeps,” created by Thea Alvin, stands fittingly in the shadow of Discovery Hall and was developed as Alvin led her team, armed with little more than hammers and trowels, in its construction.
