(Photographed by Volunteer Photographer Drew Chuang)

(Photographed by Volunteer Photographer Drew Chuang)

Staff Writer: Maya Pontes 

Email: mpontes4@umassd.edu 

As the clock hits five p.m. on September 17, the Maclean Campus Center fills with the pitter patter of students, faculty, and alumni alike, all there with one simple goal: To appreciate art!

The Grata Retro is an annual event hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts  (CVPA), where students can showcase their art for sale to the UMass Dartmouth community. The event offers an accessible art exposition, such as crafts and music that students can sign up for at no cost. 

This was the sixth time they’ve run the event with each year growing from the last. There were numerous artists tabling, live music, and free food.

This opportunity extends beyond the student body. Many of the vendors showing their art were  student alumni. Creating art is a vulnerable thing, and sharing that art with others can be even more  exposing. Creating a community where students are coming back to share their art with others is  incredibly special.

 Throughout the night, crowds of UMass Dartmouth students, faculty, and alumni supported the artists and the work they have been doing. 

Sarah Mailloux is one of these returning Corsairs who graduated in the spring with a BFA in illustration. In her fourth year participating in the Grata Retro festival, she came prepared. Not only did she have a full table including her self-published picture book, but she also had an interactive game where students could fish for a keychain in a bowl of  glass stones. Everything Mailloux sold was made by hand!  

(Sarah Mailloux Photographed by Staff Writer Maya Pontes) 

Mailloux spoke about how awesome she thinks this opportunity is for students, as it is very  convenient and accessible, but she only wishes it were more organized. She explained she tried  to get on the planning committee one year; however, it fell through. Despite this, she said she keeps coming back because she loves the community of students who connect with her and her art.  

For more information on Mailloux and her art, click here: SarahMaillouxArt.squarespace.com. 

(Gale Rodriguez’s Grata Retro Table Photographed by Staff Writer Maya Pontes)

Many student vendors spoke about how grateful they are for the opportunity to share their work.  Gale Rodriguez, a graduate student, sold her art in Grata Retro for the first time. Her table was  filled with prints and stickers of all of her work (pictured above).  

Rodriguez graduated with a BFA in painting from the University of Houston and is now in her third  year here at UMass Dartmouth, working toward her MFA in illustration. She is a painter,  cartoonist, and storyteller. When asked what she likes to illustrate most, she said, “wire and  strings and outlets, weird things like that.”  

Rodriguez explained she thought it was nice to hold it in the Campus Center because there is more foot traffic and interaction with the whole campus. In previous years, the event has been held in the  CVPA building; however, many students of different majors don’t have class there and wouldn’t know about the event otherwise.  

For more information on Rodriguez, visit her website: https://galerodriguez.carrd.co/#. 

Roxie, an undergraduate illustration major, also pointed out the event’s location change. She  explained that it was previously held outside, which she preferred; but, she noted that what was most important: holding the event regardless of location. 

For more information on Roxie, follow her Instagram @roxannymcphee. 

Holding events that not only recognize students’ hard work but also advance their careers is  foundational, especially for students making art. 

Art is a unique human practice. It is a way of communicating and expressing oneself. But, it can be challenging to get recognition and build yourself from the ground up. Creating a community  where students can not only be vulnerable enough to share their work but also come back as a  means of support is truly special. As the years go on, Grata Retro will always remain an important yearly tradition for the UMass Dartmouth community.