New Padnos Distinguished Artist-in-Residence sharing art inspired by natural world – including Valley Campus outdoor installation

Renee Zettle-Sterling, assistant chair of the Department of Visual and Media Arts, urged students, faculty and staff members and the larger West Michigan community to engage with Gambino.

"Reach out to her, please. Maria's art is relevant to each one of us," Zettle-Sterling said. "It is both sensitive and powerful, inspecting and reflecting on the interconnectedness of our natural world, which is especially critical in the world we live in today. Our natural world is more fragile than it has ever been, and we need to reflect deeply on our relationship with animals, plants, and mycelium. Maria's art reflects and speaks to our humanity."

Gambino hopes more students will engage with her when she is working in the living art sculptural botanical garden, whether to talk about the materials she is using or some of the bigger questions about working as an artist. One of the important aspects of the Padnos Distinguished Artist-in-Residence role is to help students understand the business side and marketplace of the art world.

She wants to impart the need for professionalism to work as an artist, which means ensuring true engagement with the art-making process and widely seeking opportunities such as this GVSU role to enhance enlightenment and grow an artistic practice.

That growth as a person and artist allows for a deeper reflection on what it means to produce artwork, she said.

" I'm hoping that students can get that sense of when they're making work - do they feel like they're making work that speaks to the moment that they're in? Do they feel like there's a reflection?" Gambino said. "What motivates them to really think about that? Because when you're engaged with your work and you love what you're doing, there is no sense of time. There is no 'Is this good enough or should I keep doing more? You just know.'"