East Lansing Public Art Gallery celebrates 18 years

Director Yvette Robinson’s exhibit on display until the end of month

WEDNESDAY, March 9 — Aside from  two gyms, a fitness center and a 25-yard swimming pool, the Hannah Community Center holds a hidden gem: the East Lansing Public Art Gallery.

This month, the art gallery is celebrating its 18th year. In honor of the occasion, gallery director Yvette Robinson’s exhibit “Synergy” is on display until March 29. 

Robinson previously served as an East Lansing arts commissioner and has been involved with the gallery before it even opened in March 2004. She was selected to spearhead the effort of opening an art gallery in East Lansing — an effort she said had been ongoing since the 1960s. 

Robinson embraced the project, immediately researching how art galleries were run in different cities, states and countries. Others kindly shared details with her — from what color to use on the walls to the lighting in the room. 

In all her years as director, Robinson said her proudest moments come from meeting fellow artists. The gallery features local, national and international artists. 

“Every month is my proudest moment,” she said, noting the gallery’s monthly exhibit changes. 

The “Synergy” exhibit features 18 paintings from Robinson that she made in only 17 days last month. The paintings were made after she faced a personal incident. In her artist’s statement, Robinson said that instead of celebrating Black History Month, she was “living through the very thing that African Americans have fought so hard to change.” Rather than avoid her feelings, Robinson dove into her emotions head-on through her art. 

“I threw myself into it because that’s all I knew to do, was to get myself so involved, do my art and release my emotions that way,” she said. “So, that’s what I did.”

Her favorite piece from the exhibit is titled “Just Breathe” — a phrase Robinson said her inner child had to remind her to do during this creative process. The piece shows a woman with her hair blowing in the wind in blues, purples and yellows. 

“I was so emotional, I had to tell myself — that little girl in me — had to say, ‘Just breathe, it will be OK,’” Robinson said. “I went crazy with the paints on that.”

She hopes that more people will come out to the community center and observe the available art in the “small little nugget” of the arts in East Lansing that is the gallery. There is no cost for admission to the gallery, which is on the second floor of the community center.

Robinson had a message for those who may be unfamiliar with the art gallery. 

“Come see what it’s about,” Robinson said. “The more people get involved, the more we can grow.”