Alyssa Imes in front of Chill Bloom (2023) (David Andrews)

Alyssa Imes

Chill Bloom (2023)

Alyssa Imes' public sculpture, Chill Bloom, is a work that was selected through an open call in Spring 2023 organized by undergraduate students enrolled in Abigail McEwen’s Public Art course at the University of Maryland. The class invited submissions that addressed the concerns and challenges facing college students today, seeking works that inspired play and joy. This initiative was supported by Arts for All, the Department of Art History & Archaeology, and the Dedalus Foundation and facilitated the installation of Chill Bloom outside of the Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Building on the University of Maryland campus in the outdoor ampitheater.

As part of the unveiling of Chill Bloom, Imes led an interactive Human Loom Workshop. Participants' arms were utilized by the artist as parts of a loom ped, providing the structure for a knitted fabric. With this immersive and interactive workshop, Imes and participants explored the concept of human networks through a meditative, relaxing, and unifying practice.

Artist Alyssa Imes grew up in Emmitsburg, Maryland and currently lives near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree (BFA) from Shepherd University in 2018, during which time she created works with communal cast iron and knitted fibers. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Maryland with an MFA, producing a body of work that reflected the ideas of growth after trauma. A polar opposite to her gallery work, her public works are fun, colorful, and vibrant. Most of the works in this series reference floral and growth elements. Across her art practices, the main element of inspiration remains the connections she makes with people and the interactions that follow.

Chill Bloom creates a space of safety and shelter for students experiencing college stress. Hammock-like in structure, it offers a place to lie, sit, or rest. Referencing the shape of a blooming tulip, it evokes early spring and the eagerness of tulips to be among the first flowers to bloom. Just like tulips, college students are eager and ready for a fresh start at their studies and college experience. Chill Bloom is Imes' way of giving students and staff a safe and relaxing place to recharge.