Capitol News

A new art installation has been unveiled in downtown East Lansing through a partnership between the City of East Lansing and Michigan State University. The project involved Assistant Professor Barbara Pearsall and 18 students from her Color and Design course at MSU, who installed colored film on the windows of the East Lansing skywalk. The skywalk is located along Albert Avenue, connecting the Marriott Hotel at 300 M.A.C. Avenue with the Charles Street parking garage at 121 Charles St.

Pearsall commented on the significance of the collaboration: “We hope this installation marks the beginning of many future collaborative art projects with the City of East Lansing,” she said. “We aim to foster a stronger sense of connection between MSU and the City, showcasing how MSU students actively contribute to the vibrancy and identity of our community, and how art can play a vital role in strengthening our community.

“These initiatives foster creative exchange and help reimagine shared public spaces. Opportunities like this are significant for students because they offer invaluable real-world experience beyond the classroom. By working on collaborative public art projects, students gain hands-on skills in creating large-scale artworks and deepen their understanding of how creative work can impact their broader communities.”

The process began with each student creating an individual design on paper. These designs were then transformed into colored films that were applied to both sides of the skywalk’s windows.

Caitlin Jones, a freshman studying graphic design, described her experience: “When I signed up for this Color and Design class, I definitely wasn’t expecting to get the chance to be part of such a cool project in East Lansing. I love how each window has its own personality and color palette,” she said.

“There were challenges during installation — making sure every stripe was straight and every step was precise — but it was also satisfying to see it come together. Being here early on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before the sun rises, it’s amazing to watch the colors shift with the light and to walk away after class seeing how much progress we made and be part of this addition in East Lansing.”