Bovee University Center posters celebrate diversity without ‘diversity’ through student-made art

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A smoothie was Michelle Snay’s inspiration in creating a large poster about diversity.

The art work contains words including “white,” “black,” “Asian” and “Indian” all thrown into a giant blender.

Snay, a 2008 CMU alumna, made the piece for art professor David Stairs’ ART: 444 Advanced Topography class two years ago.

“David Stairs is a riot,” Snay said. “He really challenged his students to think outside the box.”

Snay’s creation and 12 others are currently on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Multicultural Education Center, Bovee University Center 125, until Monday.

Stairs said the art was created as an assignment in which students had to design a poster about diversity without using the word “diversity.”

He said the art has previously been on display at the Multicultural Education Center and Rose Arena.

“I like them all,” Stairs said. “I was excited.”

Stairs said one student was even contacted by the government of Saskatchewan inquiring about his work.

The posters showcase a wide range of ideas.

One is all white and contains various different ways to say “diversity” in different languages.

“What this artist really wanted is to force you to come in and take a closer look,” said Ulana Klymyshyn, director of the Multicultural Program.

Another one showed a large portrait of an Asian man with bold letters that read, “If I sat next to you in math class, would you copy off of my exam?”

Smaller print at the bottom of the poster read, “Too bad you didn’t know that I’m terrible at math.”

Alumnus Gavin Pohl made a large white poster with a picture of a small girl at the bottom. Near her read the words, “The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.”

“I feel that too many people focus on one specific area of diversity such as the color issue, or stereotyping particular ethnic groups,” Pohl wrote on a sign explaining his work.

Klymyshyn said the exhibit represents a large range of what she considers diversity.

“I think they did an excellent job,” Klymyshyn said. “I’m very impressed with what the students can do.”