Macson McGuigan, the visual media manager of EMU’s Marketing and Communications department, opened his photography show in the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery on Friday, Sept. 12. The show is titled “Fleeting.” The reception started at 4 p.m. and refreshments were provided. The event was worth one Engage point for undergraduates, and 43 students provided their ID numbers to receive their points.
Students, faculty, and staff started to gather in the gallery around 4 p.m., eating refreshments and looking at the photos. A few students carried papers on which they took notes for class. Senior Biology major Maya Tutton said she came to the gallery opening with an assignment for Foundations of Design, a Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) class.
VACA Professor Steven Johnson briefly introduced McGuigan, who then gave a short statement about his show. McGuigan graduated from EMU in 2017 with a BA in Digital Media and Environmental Sustainability. “Fleeting” is his first gallery show since his senior show in 2017. “This is such an exciting moment for me,” McGuigan said.
Guests formed a semi-circle around McGuigan as he talked about his work. He described the processes behind some of the photos before opening up to audience questions. When a guest asked about the title of the gallery, McGuigan said, “I tried to capture things that are particularly unique and fleeting.”
After a few more audience questions, guests looked at the photos for a few more minutes before heading to the Mainstage Theater for an accompanying video presentation. The video was about 20 minutes long and featured close-ups, wide shots, drone shots, and time lapses set to instrumental music. Around 30 students, staff, and family members attended the video showing.
Senior Digital Media major Allie Watkins attended the gallery opening specifically for the video presentation, hoping to gather ideas for her upcoming senior show. “What I personally saw in [the video] was different human feelings through nature,” Watkins said. “It was really impressive.”
McGuigan’s photos will remain in the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery, which is in the bottom floor of the University Commons, until Oct. 3.
