EMU Today

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University will host a dedication ceremony for the new Windgate Arts Complex on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at 4 p.m. in the Chris Kaufman Critique Atrium. This invitation-only event will celebrate the Windgate Foundation's $3.4 million contribution, pivotal in funding the cutting-edge facility.  At the same time, this event honors the many private large donations made by friends of EMU’s School of Art and Design.  The ceremony will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guided tours, and remarks from University leaders. 

“We are incredibly grateful for the Windgate Foundation's generous contribution to the Windgate Arts Complex," said EMU President James Smith. "Their support not only strengthens our commitment to providing top-tier arts education but also ensures that our students have access to cutting-edge facilities that inspire creativity and innovation.”

The 23,000 sq. ft. facility on the northwest corner of campus houses various art programs such as ceramics, sculpture, digital fabrication, and furniture design, offering students fresh resources in a state-of-the-art environment.

“The Windgate Arts Complex is for faculty, staff, and students—present and future—who will be inspired by this new facility and want to return time and again to practice their crafts, work alongside fellow artisans, and design new works of art in studios that were built for these very purposes,” said EMU Professor and Director of the School of Art and Design Sandra Murchison.

The Complex will also welcome students of all ages and skill sets to enhance partnerships with organizations such as the Riverside Arts Center in offering summer workshops to Washtenaw County residents. Teachers from across the state will also be able to participate in a summer institute led by EMU Art Education faculty to refresh and expand their skills in the studios.

Student talent on display
In addition to the new facilities, the ceremony will showcase a student-designed bench that will be a permanent feature in the Christopher Kaufman Critique Atrium. EMU student Leah Popyk, winner of the Student Furniture Design Challenge sponsored by GameAbove, created the sleek, bent-wood bench with an integrated concrete table. Her design was selected for its creativity, functionality, and seamless integration with the building’s architecture.

“Leah’s design is a testament to our students' incredible talent and vision, and it’s exciting to see their work become part of the permanent landscape of the Windgate Arts Complex,” said Chris Kaufman, a GameAbove advisory board member.

Popyk and her classmates produced ten benches based on her design. The project was a hands-on learning experience in Professor John DeHoog’s Furniture Design winter 2024 class that aligns with EMU’s strategic plan of promoting student success and engagement in real-world applications of their studies.

The new Windgate Arts Complex, completed in just 15 months, represents EMU’s forward-thinking approach to art education, providing a collaborative environment for students to develop their skills across multiple disciplines.

About the Windgate Foundation
The Windgate Foundation was established in 1993 by William Loyd “Hutch” Hutcheson Jr. and Mary Ella “Dede” Dietrich Hutcheson. The foundation is dedicated to strengthening advanced contemporary arts as well as visual arts education by providing grants and resources for these programs. They are based in Little Rock, Arkansas, and focus on helping the arts in the U.S., as well as helping communities in Arkansas involved with health and education. Visit Windgate’s website to learn more information. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.