WSU Tri-Cities Exhibit Highlights STEAM Learning Through Art (Photo) - 04/03/26
RICHLAND — An upcoming exhibit at Washington State University Tri-Cities is inviting viewers to reimagine the relationship between artistic expression and scientific learning. Opening April 15 at the Art Center in the Consolidated Information Center on the WSU Tri-Cities campus, “Art(Math + Science) = Creative Intersections” brings together a collection of works created by college and middle school students alike. The opening reception will include a public panel, “STEAMworks: Pedagogy of Practice,” as university students and faculty discuss their experiences of incorporating art into their teaching practices.
From visual representations of fractional division using organic materials to sculptural reflections on food and nutrition, the works on display put a creative, hand-crafted spin on mathematical concepts and scientific topics. In showcasing these works, exhibit organizers hope to challenge assumptions of how STEM subjects should be taught and presented in educational spaces.
“One of the central ideas behind this exhibit is to explore multiple pathways for meaning-making. By making these connections visible, it encourages divergent thinking, inviting students to interpret, question and make dialogue beyond a single correct answer,” said Yichien Cooper, assistant professor of teaching and learning with the WSU Tri-Cities College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences, who curated the exhibit. “We want to demonstrate the power and potential of teaching through art, which can inspire, build confidence and help young learners connect with new ideas in a meaningful way.”
The multi-disciplinary exhibit includes works created by WSU Tri-Cities education majors from Cooper’s “Integrating Fine Arts into K-8 Curriculum” course, as well as from courses on integrated science and elementary mathematics taught by assistant professors Tyler Hanson and Ethan Smith, respectively. The show will also feature works created by students from Richland’s Carmichael Middle School, originating from a special project conducted by WSU Tri-Cities teaching candidate Destiny Kuespert during her practicum training.
Viewers of the exhibit are also welcome to participate through an interactive component that will encourage making shapes and patterns based on self-guided prompts.
The April 15 opening reception is from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by the panel discussion from 6:30-7:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend the exhibit, which will be on display until August 13.
