Rest Stop was a project enacted by the Department of Art Summer Intensive courses led by Madeline Rupard and Christopher Lynn. Over the seven-week semester, students traveled to Idaho and Las Vegas—visiting tourist sites and way stations—created artworks, and planned and executed two exhibitions in the parking lot of Will's Canyon Stop gas station. The exhibitions at the gas station dealt with memory, land, traces, resting places, pit stops, transit, and roadside commerce. Students' artistic practices deepened as they ferociously dove into their concepts and intense art making over the seven weeks. They learned what it takes to stage an exhibition—working on different committees overseeing marketing, curatorial, and publication concerns. They interfaced with the press, launched social media campaigns, created exhibition brochures and essays, and assembled an entire print catalog for the exhibition that features their art and essays by art history students.

This exhibition shows the various ways students have tackled ideas of travel, place, history, cultural identity, and commerce, and includes artworks as well as artefacts from the gas station installation itself.

Participating Artists: Leia Aki, Julie Bielefeldt, Eric Edvalson, Eve Everett, Raylene Keliiliki, Brynn LaFleur, Anna McIllece, Alyssa Melby, Ally Ordyna, Ron Rosario, Madeline Rupard, and Kat Shapiro