The artwork of 11 Iowa State students is currently on display at Mainframe Studios in downtown Des Moines as part of an exhibition titled “Bloom.” 

The exhibition, which addresses themes related to mental health and wellbeing, began Oct. 3 and will run through Oct. 22. 

According to Rachel Connell, the gallery coordinator, this is Iowa State’s third exhibition through its partnership with Mainframe Studios.

Mainframe Studios is a “self-sustaining nonprofit providing affordable workspaces” and is entirely free to the public seven days a week, according to their website.

The current student exhibition features artwork of many formats and media, showcasing a diverse skill set.

“We’ve been really open with the type of media we’d like to see,” Connell said. “I see the theme coming through each of the students’ work in many different ways.”

Connell used a ceramic bust made by Camila Cebollero, a senior in integrated studio arts, as an example.

“It’s about a fear that they have of accidentally putting themselves into anaphylactic shock based on an allergy,” Connell said. “So, I think about how that would affect your mental health and just going about your everyday life.”

Brenna Akason, a senior in industrial design, had three poems selected for display that addressed the challenges she has faced.

“My poetry is usually kind of like an emotional release, so a lot of them are about, especially once I got into college, coping with mental health,” Akason said. “A lot of the themes in it, I know people can relate to.”

For Iris Kim, a sophomore in industrial design, mental health as a theme was addressed both through the creation of the artwork itself and how others perceive it.

“I wanted to make something that brings me peace, and painting itself brings me peace,” Kim said. 

Kim, who has two paintings exhibited, also wants those who view the artwork to feel that same sense of peace.

“When they see it, I hope that they don’t think of anything,” Kim said. “I just wanted to give positive vibes. Something flowy and not too rigid.”

Akason and Kim had friends join them at Mainframe after it opened to celebrate and experience the exhibition with them. 

“I brought all my friends there, and it just felt nice having my name up there too,” Kim said.

According to Connell, artwork from the exhibitions at Mainframe Studios is sometimes purchased.

“I did not realize how big of a deal this was when I first submitted,” Akason said. “I’m also submitting a hobby instead of something that would even correlate to my class.”

Connell emphasized that the exhibitions are open for students of any major to submit work to.

“So this started out as a collaborative partnership with the College of Design and Mainframe,” Connell said. “But we’ve had students outside of the College of Design with majors outside of the college apply and show work.”

Students who participated in “Bloom” range from industrial design students such as Akason and Kim to students in creative writing, integrated visual arts, and human-computer interaction.

According to Connell, calls for entry are currently posted in the Design Student Announcements through Canvas, sent by email to Design students and advertised via posters.

“We’re sort of thinking about how we can expand that,” Connell said. “And we have some ideas in the works for getting the word out a bit more broadly.”

According to Connell, there are many more exhibitions planned for the future with six months of exhibition space reserved at Mainframe for 2025.