Pop-up art show raises money for student artists

HARC Collective, a student-led art organization, will host a pop-up show in hopes of helping student artists reach their artistic goals.

The organization’s second show, called Underground: A Pop-Up Art Show, will be held Saturday from 4-11 p.m. HARC’s first pop-up gallery was held in April 2016.

HARC manager and UNC sophomore James Creissen said the show will be held below Cosmic Cantina on East Franklin Street.

He said they would also have the space open on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Creissen said the location was chosen because it’s accessible for both the community and UNC students.

“The only thing we were lacking in that first pop-up show was the venue,” Creissen said. “The only space we could find was off campus, so we didn’t get quite the turnout that we could have had. We had a lot of people saying they wish they could have made it, but they didn’t have a car.”

Creissen said the name of the organization was chosen in reference to UNC and the founders’ hometowns.

“The H comes from the home of Chapel Hill, the AR is from the ‘AR’ in Cary, and the C is from Charlotte because that’s where we’re all originally from,” Creissen said. ”(HARC) also references the UNC alma mater song, ‘Hark the Sound.’”

HARC manager and UNC sophomore Divya Agarwal said HARC has been working with the Orange County Artists Guild and the Orange County Arts Commission to plan for the fall.

“The Arts Guild has this art tour every fall that lasts two weeks,” Agarwal said. “People make pieces and post them in their garage for people to look at during the tour. It’s very likely that they’re going to allow student artists from UNC to participate in this show and pair up with someone associated with the guild.”

Agarwal said the tour could help student artists ease into the Chapel Hill art scene.

“People can find resources to future jobs and showcase their artwork in a more informal environment than on campus,” she said. “It’s kind of tough to do that when you’re an art major and the only place you have is the Hanes Art (Center).”

Orange County Arts Commission Coordinator Katie Murray said the show will give student artists a chance to make a profit from their work.

“The whole point of their group is to find exhibit space off campus so that students can actually sell their work,” Murray said. “If they display on campus, they can’t sell their work.”

Creissen said the group has earned recognition through the University.

“We’re a growing organization and we’re Bryan Fellowship recipients this year, so we’re hoping we’ll keep this going during the time we’re at Carolina,” he said.

The APPLES Service-Learning Robert E. Bryan Fellowship is designed for teams of undergraduates working on projects that address community needs, locally or around the world.

Agarwal said she is hopeful that with the Bryan Fellowship and help from the Orange County Arts Guild, HARC can have a permanent office space in the future.

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